An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Karpfen

by Friedrich Kluge

Karpfen, m., ‘carp,’ from the equiv. MidHG. karpfe, OHG. charpho, m.; comp. E. carp; allied to OIc. karfe. It cannot be decided whether Karpfen is a real Teut. word; probably MidLat. carpo, Fr. carpe, and Ital. carpione are derived from Teut. In Kelt. too there are cognate terms for ‘carp,’ W. carp; comp. also Russ. karpŭ, koropŭ, Serv. krap, Lith. kárpa, ‘carp.’