An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Sinau

by Friedrich Kluge

Sinau, m., ‘lady's mantle’; the earlier ModHG. variants Sindau and Sindawe point to MidHG. and OHG. *sintou, whose lit. sense, ‘ever-dew’ (see Singrün), characterises the plant more simply than the terms Taubehalt, lit. ‘dew-holder,’ and Tanschlüssel, lit. ‘dew-key,’ which are applied to it.