An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Feige

by Friedrich Kluge

Feige, f., ‘fig,’ from the equiv. MidHG. vîge, OHG. fîga, f., ‘fig’; comp. OSax. fîga, Du. vijg; derived, like other South Europ. names of trees and fruits, from Rom. Lat. (ficus, f.), or more strictly from North Ital. and Provenç. figa, whence also Fr. figue. The AS. fîctreów is connected directly with the Lat., the later E. form fig-tree being based upon Fr. figue. Comp. Pfirsich, Pflaume, Birne, varieties of fruit, which were borrowed in the OHG. period, or even earlier, from the Lat. Goth. smakka, ‘fig,’ corresponding to OSlov. smokŭ, was obtained from a different source. See Ohrfeige.