An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Rebhuhn

by Friedrich Kluge

Rebhuhn, neuter, ‘partridge,’ from the equivalent Middle High German rëphuon, Old High German rëba-huon, rëbhuon, neuter; it is not probable that Rebhuhn signifies ‘the fowl that is fond of frequenting vines (Reben).’ Perhaps reba- has here another sense. To assume also, on account of Low German raphon, Swedish rapphöna, ‘partridge’ (Old Icelandic rjúpa, ‘ptarmigan’), that the word is derived from Low German rapp, ‘quick,’ is inadmissible, since the High German term occurs at a very early period. It is most probably connected with the equivalent Russian rjabka (allied to Old Slovenian rębŭ, Russian rjaboj, ‘variegated’).