An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Hummer

by Friedrich Kluge

Hummer, m., ‘lobster,’ ModHG. only, from the equiv. LG. (Dan. and Swed.) hummer; the final source is OIc. humarr, m., ‘lobster’; comp. Gr. κάμαρος, κάμμαρος, ‘a kind of crab,’ although the occurrence of the same names of fishes in several Aryan languages is usually very rare. In E. a different word is used — AS. loppestre, f., E. lobster.