Fröbel’s Kinder-Garten described his approach to early education through a gardening metaphor. English borrowed the entire German name. The spelling carries the idea intact, even when we no longer notice the garden inside it.
Sources
- Merriam-Webster · kindergarten
Dictionary word history; the component and historical references below supply additional detail.
- Online Etymology Dictionary · kindergarten
Historical forms, meanings, and context for the route described here.