An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Honig

by Friedrich Kluge

Honig, m., ‘honey,’ from MidHG. honec (gen. -ges, variant hünic), OHG. honag, honang, n.; comp. OSax. honeg, Du. honig, AS. huneg, n., E. honey, OIc. hunang, n.; a common Teut. word, wanting only in Goth., in which an older term, miliþ (Gr. μελιτ-, Lat. mel, under Mehltau), is used. The origin is not certain; it has been referred to Gr. κόνις, ‘dust’; Honig, ‘granular’?.