An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Ulme

by Friedrich Kluge

Ulme, feminine, ‘elm,’ from Middle High German (rare) ulmboum, for which Middle High German and Old High German ëlmboum, masculine, is most frequently found. While ulm- is adopted from Latin ulmus, the equivalent Old High German and Middle High German ëlm- is related prehistorically, by gradation, with Latin ulmus; so too Old Icelandic almr, English elm. With the pre-Teutonic stem el, ol, the cognates of Modern High German Erle (Eller) are also connected.