An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Kicher

by Friedrich Kluge

Kicher, feminine, ‘chick-pea,’ from the equivalent Middle High German kicher, Old High German chihhurra, chihhira, feminine; based on Latin cicer (plural cicera), neuter, ‘chick-pea,’ cicera, feminine, ‘chickling vetch'; Middle Latin cicoria, cichorea, which would be most closely allied phonetically to Old High German chihhurra, signifies ‘chicory (Greek κἴχώριον). Middle English chiche, English chiches, chickpeas, plural, with the suffix r wanting as in French chiche, Italian cece. The term was borrowed before the Old High German period (Dutch sisererwt is more recent).