An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Semmel

by Friedrich Kluge

Semmel, m., ‘roll,’ from MidHG. sëmel, sëmele (also simel), OHG. sëmala, simila, f., ‘fine wheat flour or bread, roll’; a word peculiar to HG., allied to OHG. sëmon, ‘to eat.’ Lat. simila, ‘wheat flour,’ whence also Ital. semola, Fr. semoule, ‘bran from fine wheat flour,’ has been influenced by the HG. word.