An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Beifuß

by Friedrich Kluge

Beifuß, masculine, ‘a species of wormwood used in seasoning food’; the Middle High German and Old High German word was written bĩbôȥ, hence the semi-Low German aspect of the Modern High German word. Old High German bîbôȥ is cognate with anabôȥ (see Amboß), and connected with an Old Teutonic verb bautan, ‘to pound’; bîbôȥ, ‘spice pounded and mixed with food.’ The Low German form of the Old High German word is bîvôt, and hence arose the Modern High German Beifuß, by the awkward attempt of popular etymology to connect bîvôt with a well-known word.