An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Obst

by Friedrich Kluge

Obst, n., with an excrescent dental as in Axt, Mond, niemand, Palast, Papst; from the equiv. MidHG. obeȥ, OHG. obaȥ, n., ‘fruit.’ It is a West Teut. word; comp. Du. ooft, AS. ofet (Goth. *ubat is wanting, in OIc. alden). It is uncertain whether Goth. *ubat is akin to ober, über, root up-, thus signifying ‘what is above.’