An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Pfebe

by Friedrich Kluge

Pfebe, f., from the equiv. MidHG. pfëben, OHG. *pfëban, *pfëbano, m., ‘pumpkin,’ formed from Lat. pepon (Gr. πέπων), ‘pumpkin.’ MidHG. pfëdem, ‘pumpkin,’ and OHG. pfëdemo, are peculiar; besides these, OHG. pëpano, bëbano, and MidHG. bëben also occur without permutation. Comp. bidmen.