An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Meerrettig

by Friedrich Kluge

Meerrettig, masculine, ‘horse-radish,’ allied to Meer, like Herzog to Heer, vierte (ĭ) to vier (ī), &c.; corresponding to Middle High German męrręttich, Old High German męri-ratich, masculine, ‘radish that has come from over the sea, transpontine radish.’ The English term horse-radish, Meerrettig, is curious, and suggests the idea that Meer- in this case is equivalent to Mähre. Dutch mierikwortel, Westphalian mirrek, Hessian Merchhorn, seem to be of the same origin.