An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Pfebe

by Friedrich Kluge

Pfebe, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German pfëben, Old High German *pfëban, *pfëbano, masculine, ‘pumpkin,’ formed from Latin pepon (Greek πέπων), ‘pumpkin.’ Middle High German pfëdem, ‘pumpkin,’ and Old High German pfëdemo, are peculiar; besides these, Old High German pëpano, bëbano, and Middle High German bëben also occur without permutation. Compare bidmen.