An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Liebstöckel
Liebstöckel, n. and m., ‘lovage,’ even in MidHG. liebstuckel, usually, however, lübestecke, m., which is based on Lat. ligusticum (whence the equiv. Ital. levistico, Fr. livèche). The unintelligible Lat. form was corrupted in the Middle Ages in the most varied ways; AS. lufestice is also based on AS. lufu, love’ OHG. lubistëchal, MidHG. lübestecke seem to be formed in allusion to OHG. luppi, MidHG. lüppe, ‘juice of a plant producing strong effects’ (see Lab).