An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Eibe

by Friedrich Kluge

Eibe, f., ‘yew,’ from the equiv. MidHG. îwe, OHG. îwa, f. (MidHG. also ‘a yew-tree bow’); comp. the corresponding AS. îw, eów, E. yew, and OIc. ýr, m., ‘yew’ (and ‘bow’). Goth. *eiws is by chance not recorded. Swiss îche, îge, OHG. îha, OLG. îch, AS. eoh, prove that the word had originally a medial guttural; hence the primary form Goth. *eihwa?. From the Teut. word, MidLat. îvus, Fr. if, Span. iva, ‘yew,’ are derived. The relation of OHG. îwa, îha, AS. îw, eoh, to OIr. éo, W. yw, ‘yew’ (Lith. jëvà, ‘bird-cherry tree,’ OSlov. iva, ‘willows’), has yet to be determined.