An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Dattel

by Friedrich Kluge

Dattel, feminine, ‘date’ (fruit), from Middle High German datel, tatel, tatele, feminine; from Romance, — French datte, Italian dattilo; the primary source of which is Greek δάκτυλος, ‘date’ (compare Attich).; hence too Dutch dadel, English date.