An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Almanach

by Friedrich Kluge

Almanach, m. ‘almanac,’ first appears in early ModHG., from Fr. almanack, which with its Rom. cognates is said to have come from Arab. through Span., like other words beginning with Al- (see Alchimie, Alkoven). But as the Arab. word for calendar is certainly not Almanach, but taquîm (Milan. taccuino), the derivation from Gr.-Egyp. ἀλμενιχιακά, ‘calendar’ (found in the Eccl. Hist. of Eusebius), is much more likely to be correct.