An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Torf
Torf, m., ‘turf, peat,’ ModHG. only, a LG. loan-word unknown to Bav.; comp. LG. torf, Du., AS., and E. turf, and the equiv. OIc. torf. In OHG. we find a genuine HG. form zurba, ‘sward,’ with a normal permutation, for which Swiss now has turbe, with the LG. permutation. The OTeut. word passed (in a LG. form) into Rom.; comp. Ital. torbo, Fr. tourbe, ‘turf.’ This form Torf (lit. ‘sward’), orig. common to Teut., is based on pre-Teut. drbh, and is connected with Sans. darbhá, ‘tuft of grass.’