An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Taube

by Friedrich Kluge

Taube, f., ‘dove, pigeon,’ from the equiv. MidHG. tûbe, OHG. tûba, f.; corresponding to the equiv. Goth. dûbô, AS. dûfe, E. dove, Du. duif. This common Teut. term (for which Goth. ahaks, AS. culufre, ‘dove,’ are also found) has been connected with a Teut. root dū̆b, ‘to dive,’ which appears in AS. dŷfan, E. to dive, Taube being regarded as orig. ‘water-dove.’ It is more probably related to OIr. dub, ‘black,’ duibe, ‘blackness’; comp. Gr. πέλεια, ‘wild pigeon,’ from πελοός, ‘dark blue.’