ivy: [OE] Ivy has been traced back to a prehistoric Germanic *ibakhs, which also lies behind modern German efeu and Dutch eilof. This has been linked by some etymologists with Latin ibex ‘mountain goat’ (itself acquired by English in the 17th century), the semantic connection being ‘climber’. The expression Ivy League, denoting the eight old-established and prestigious universities of the northeastern USA (Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale), was inspired by the idea of ancient ivy-covered walls. It dates from the 1930s.
ivy (n.)
Old English ifig, from West Germanic *ibakhs (cognates: Middle Low German iflof, Dutch eiloof, Old High German ebahewi, German Efeu), of unknown origin; the second element in the Old High German word might be "hay."
Ivy bush as a sign of a tavern where wine is served is attested from mid-15c. Ivy League, inspired by the notion of old, ivy-coated walls, dates to 1933 (perhaps originally in reference to football; it consists of Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale).
