An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Liebstöckel

by Friedrich Kluge

Liebstöckel, neuter and masculine, ‘lovage,’ even in Middle High German liebstuckel, usually, however, lübestecke, masculine, which is based on Latin ligusticum (whence the equivalent Italian levistico, French livèche). The unintelligible Latin form was corrupted in the Middle Ages in the most varied ways; Anglo-Saxon lufestice is also based on Anglo-Saxon lufu, love’ Old High German lubistëchal, Middle High German lübestecke seem to be formed in allusion to Old High German luppi, Middle High German lüppe, ‘juice of a plant producing strong effects’ (see Lab).