An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Hopfen

by Friedrich Kluge

Hopfen, m., ‘hops,’ from MidHG. hopfe, late OHG. hopfo, m.; comp. MidLG. and Du. hoppe, MidE. hoppe, E. hop; MidLat. hupa (for huppa?). The origin of the cognates is obscure; the term may be borrowed, but there is no proof of this. The assumed relation to OHG. hiufo, OSax. hiopo, AS. heópe, ‘brier,’ is not satisfactory, since the latter cannot be assigned to a general sense, ‘climbing plant.’ Nor is it probable that Hopfen is connected with hüpfen. Scand. has humall, m., Sw. and Dan. hamle, formed from MidLat. humlo, humulus (whence Fr. houblon?). — Hopsen — hopsen, see hüpfen.