From Proto-Germanic '*hanapiz,' from a Central Asian source — etymologically the same word as 'cannabis,' both from one ancient root.
A tall Asian plant of the cannabis family, cultivated for its strong bast fibre used in rope, textiles, and paper; the fibre itself.
From Old English 'hænep,' from Proto-Germanic '*hanapiz,' an early borrowing from a Scythian or Central Asian language. The word was borrowed into numerous language families: compare Greek 'κάνναβις' (kannabis), Latin 'cannabis,' Persian 'kanab,' and Lithuanian 'kanapė.' The ultimate source is likely a Central Asian or possibly Sumerian word. The plant originated in Central Asia and its name travelled
'Hemp' and 'cannabis' are etymologically the same word — both descend from the same ancient Central Asian source, but they entered English through different routes: 'hemp' through Germanic, 'cannabis' through Greek and Latin. The divergence happened thousands of years ago when the word was independently borrowed by different language families from the same Scythian or Iranian source.