An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Gundelrebe

by Friedrich Kluge

Gundelrebe, feminine, ‘ground-ivy,’ from the equivalent Middle High German gunderëbe; the deviation in meaning in Old High German gundrëba, ‘maple,’ is remarkable. Allied to Old High German gund (gunt), ‘pus, poison,’ Anglo-Saxon gund, Gothic gunds, ‘pus’?. In that case the word would signify ‘poison-vine’ (see Rebe), Ground-ivy was used as a medicinal herb.