An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Pflaume

by Friedrich Kluge

Pflaume, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German pflûme, feminine, ‘plum’; borrowed, as the permutated initial pf from p indicates, previous to the Old High German period (see Pfirsich) from Latin prûnum, ‘plum,’ or rather its plural prûna. The change of gender in names of fruit was made even in the Romance group, as is shown by the words corresponding to Latin cerasum, pomum, morum, and pirum; see Birne and Kirsche. Hence the late Old High German pfrûma, feminine, ‘plum,’ in closer connection with the Latin form, and also pflûmo, ‘plum-tree.’ The s of the Latin word is changed into l, as in Latin morus, equivalent to Maulbeerbaum (compare also Pilgrim, from Latin peregrînus, which has, besides, m for Latin n). Numerous Middle High German and Modern High German dialectic forms, as well as the corresponding Dutch pruim, likewise contain r; compare, on the other hand, Anglo-Saxon plûme, English plum. The Romance derivatives of Latin prûnum are French prune, Italian prugna, Spanish pruna (in Middle Latin too forms with l and m occur instead of r and n; m, moreover, appears in South-East French dialects). As to the time when the word was borrowed, see Pfirsich.