An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Lorbeer

by Friedrich Kluge

Lorbeer, m., ‘laurel,’ from MidHG. lôrber, OHG. lôrbęri, n. and f.; lit. ‘the berry of the lôrboum’ (OHG. and MidHG.); lôr- in lôr-boum, lôr-beri, is Lat. laurus, ‘laurel tree,’ which was probably known in Germany even before the 7th cent. (comp. Ital. lauro, Fr. laurier).