# An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/M (full text)

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M.
machen, verb, ‘to make, produce, cause, perform,’ from the equivalent Middle High German machen, Old High German mahhôn; corresponding to the equivalent Old Saxon makôn, Dutch maken, Anglo-Saxon macian, English to make; a common Teutonic verb for ‘to make,’ but existing also as a borrowed term in the Northern dialects. The Old High German verb further signifies ‘to combine, join.’ As allied to Gothic *makôn, compare the adjectives — Old Icelandic *makr, only in the comparative makara, ‘more suitable or convenient,’ Anglo-Saxon gemœc, ‘suitable, fit,’ Old High German gimah, ‘combined with, belonging to, corresponding, convenient,’ Middle High German gemach, Modern High German gemach; Old High German gimah, neuter of the adjective, ‘combination, convenience, agreeableness,’ Middle High German gemach, masculine and neuter, ‘comfort, agreeableness, place where one rests, dwelling, room,’ Modern High German Gemach); further, Anglo-Saxon gemœčča, ‘husband, wife,’ English make, ‘companion, spouse,’ English match, Old High German gimahho, ‘companion,’ gimahha, ‘wife,’ Old High German gimahhidi, Middle High German gemęchede, neuter, ‘spouse.’ Hence results a Teutonic root mak, ‘to join or belong to in a suitable manner’ (equivalent in meaning to the root gad in Gatte). A non-Teutonic root mag, with this sense, has not yet been found.
Macht, feminine, ‘might, force,’ from the equivalent Middle High German and Old High German maht, feminine, ‘might, power, ability’; compare Old Saxon maht, Dutch magt, Anglo-Saxon meaht, miht, English might, Old Icelandic máttr, masculine, Gothic mahts, feminine, ‘might, power, capacity.’ The common Teutonic *mahti-, feminine, which may be deduced from these words, is an old verbal abstract of Gothic magan. See mögen and Gemächt.
Mädchen, neuter, ‘maiden, girl, servant,’ Modern High German only, a derivative of Magd, with the diminutive suffix -chen (in Upper German Maidle, Mädel, &c, with diminutive l.
Made, feminine, ‘maggot,’ from Middle High German made, masculine, ‘worm, maggot,’ Old High German mado; corresponding to Dutch made, Anglo-Saxon maþa, Gothic maþa, ‘maggot, worm.’ Hence the equivalent Old Icelandic maþkr, masculine (with a suffix), from which is derived Middle English maþek, English mawk, ‘maggot’; Gothic *maþaks (English maggot is probably not allied). The original sense of the Old Teutonic *maþan-, ‘maggot,’ is perhaps ‘gnawer’; it has been connected with the root mê, ‘to mow’; Motte (Middle High German and Modern High German variant matte) may also be akin.
Magd, feminine, ‘maid, servant,’ from Middle High German maget (plural męgde), meit, ‘maiden, virgin,’ also ‘bond girl, servant,’ Old High German magad (plural magidi, męgidi), feminine, ‘maiden’; corresponding to Gothic magaþs (wanting in Old Icelandic), Anglo-Saxon mœgþ, Old Saxon magath, feminine; the common Old Teutonic word (unknown only in Scandinavian) for ‘maiden,’ in Old Saxon and Middle High German also with the Modern High German sense ‘maid, servant.’ From these are derived the diminutives (see Küchlein and Schwein), Gothic *magadein, neuter, Old High German magatîn, Middle High German magetîn, neuter, ‘girl,’ Anglo-Saxon maœgden, English maid, maiden (Anglo-Saxon mœgþ, feminine, ‘maiden,’ became obsolete at the beginning of the Middle English period), Gothic magaþs, ‘maiden,’ and its cognates in the other languages are old feminine derivatives from an archaic term, magus, ‘boy, youth’; compare Gothic magus, ‘boy, servant,’ Old Icelandic mǫgr, ‘son,’ Anglo-Saxon mago, ‘son, youth, man, servant.’ To this is allied another feminine derivative, Gothic mawi, Old Icelandic mœ́r (for *magwî, with the loss of a g, see Niere); compare further Anglo-Saxon meówle, ‘girl.’ Teutonic magus, ‘son, boy, servant,’ is equivalent to Old Irish macc, ‘boy, youth, son’ (compare the Irish proper names MacCarthy, &c.).
Mage, masculine, formed from the equivalent Middle High German mâc (g), masculine, Old High German mâg, masculine, ‘kinsman’; corresponding to Old Saxon mâg, Anglo-Saxon mœ̂g, masculine, ‘kinsman.’ The allied terms in the East Teutonic languages denote special degrees of relationship; compare Gothic mégs, ‘daughter's husband,’ Old Icelandic mágr, ‘brother-in-law, son-in-law, father-in-law.’ Probably mâg signified originally ‘one who is related by marriage.’ High German distinguishes between Schwert- and Spillmagen, just as Middle High German does between swërtmâge, ‘relatives on the male side,’ and spinnelmâge, ‘relatives on the female side’; similarly in Anglo-Saxon spërmagas and spinelmâgas.
Magen, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German and Middle Low German mage, Old High German mago, masculine, ‘stomach’; ​compare Dutch maag, Anglo-Saxon maga, Middle English mawe, English maw, Old Icelandic mage, Danish mave, ‘stomach’; Gothic *maga (genitive *magins) is wanting. From Teutonic is derived Italian (dialectic) magone, ‘crop (of birds),’ or rather magun, also magon, ‘vexation,’ to which Rhæto-Romance magún, ‘stomach,’ is allied.’ For the early history of the word we have no definite clue; to derive Magen from mögen, root mag, ‘to be able, have strength’ (as if the stomach were the ‘nourishing, strength giving part’), is not to be commended. The names of parts of the body need not, however, be traced back to a verbal root; compare Herz, Niere, and Leber.
mager, adjective, ‘lean, lank, meagre,’ from the equivalent Middle High German mager, Old High German magar, adjective; corresponding to Middle Low German and Dutch mager, Anglo-Saxon mœger, Old Icelandic magr, adjective, ‘lean’; a common Teutonic word, wanting only in Gothic. Considering the wide and early diffusion of the term, its similarity to Latin macer (Italian magro, French maigre) is remarkable. While Middle English mę̂gre, English meagre, are certainly of Romance origin (compare French maigre), Teutonic mager, like Latin macer, ‘lean,’ and Greek μακεδνός, ‘tall,’ μᾶκρός, ‘long,’ may be derived from an Aryan root mā̆k, ‘long, thin’; Lithuanian máżus, ‘little,’ may, like Old High German magar, point to a common root, magh. Yet the supposition that the Teutonic cognates are derived from Low Latin and Italian magro is more probable; note kurz, from Latin curtus.
Mahd, feminine, ‘mowing, swath,’ from Middle High German mât (genitive mâdes), neuter (also feminine), ‘mowing, what has been mown, hay, meadow,’ Old High German mâd, neuter; hence Old High German mâdâri, Middle High German mâdœre, mœder, Modern High German Mähder, ‘mower’; Anglo-Saxon mœ̂þ, neuter, ‘mowing, what has been mown, hay,’ English math in aftermath and lattermath. High German Mahd, and English math, Gothic *mêþ (genitive *mêþis), are properly verbal abstracts of the root mê, ‘to mow,’ just as the cognate Greek ἄμητος, ‘harvest,’ is derived from ἁμάω, ‘I mow’; compare also ἀμητός, ‘crop, the field when reaped.’ See Grummet, Matte, and Omet. —
mähen, verb, ‘to mow,’ from the equivalent Middle High German mœjen, Old High German mâen; corresponding to Dutch maaijen, Anglo-Saxon mâwan (preterite meów), English to mow. A common West Teutonic root mê, ‘to mow,’ has already been deduced from the previous word; it appears in Greek with a vowel prefixed in ἄ-μη-τος, ‘harvest,’ and ἀ-μάω, ‘to mow’; the t in the Latin root mêt, ‘to mow, harvest,’ which originally belonged to the present stem only, may have been regarded as a part of the root; to this is allied Old Irish meithel, ‘a party of reapers.’
Mahl (1.), neuter, obsolete except in compounds; Mahlschatz, masculine, ‘dowry,’ from Middle High German mahelschaz, masculine, ‘dowry,’ and especially ‘engagement ring’; Mahlstatt, ‘place of public assembly or of execution,’ Middle High German mahelstat, feminine, ‘court of justice, place of execution,’ Old High German mahalstat, feminine, ‘court of justice.’ See Gemahl.
Mahl (2.), neuter, ‘meal, repast,’ from Middle High German mâl, neuter, ‘banquet, meal-time’; Old High German *mâl, neuter, not recorded in this sense; allied to Middle English mœ̂l, English meal (wanting in Anglo-Saxon). Probably identical in originally with the cognates discussed under mal (2), so that ‘mealtime,’ as ‘time’ par excellence, may have led to the meanings ‘banquet, repast.’ Old Icelandic mál, neuter, also signifies, among other things, ‘meal-time.’
mahlen, verb, ‘to grind,’ from the equivalent Middle High German maln, Old High German malan; in the latter form the common Teutonic word for ‘to grind’ (but wanting in English even in Anglo-Saxon); compare Old Saxon malan, Dutch malen, Old Icelandic mala, Gothic malan, ‘to grind.’ The root mal (mol, ml), ‘to grind,’ is common to the West Aryan languages, and this fact indicates the very early existence of grinding; compare Latin molo, Greek μύλλω (to which μύλη, μύλος, μυλῖται are allied), Old Slovenian melją mlĕti), Lithuanian máḷù (málti), Old Irish melim, ‘I grind.’ This community of terms in the West Aryan languages does not necessarily point to a primitively period when the tribes speaking the languages mentioned formed one body. It is more probable that the use of mills was learnt by one tribe from another. The influence of a foreign civilisation (compare Hanf) is also quite conceivable. Compare malmen, Malter, Maulwurf, Mehl, Mühle, and Müller.
mählich, adverb, see allmählich.
Mähne, feminine, ‘mane,’ earlier Modern High German also Mane (the mutation, which also occurs in Suabian and Bavarian, seems to be due to the plural), from the equivalent Middle High German mane, man, feminine and masculine, Old High German mana, feminine; compare Dutch maan, Anglo-Saxon manu, English mane, Old Icelandic mǫn, feminine, ‘mane’ (to this is allied the derivative Old Icelandic makke, Swedish and Danish manke, ‘upper part of the neck of a horse’). The common Teutonic manô, feminine, ‘mane’ (Gothic *mana, feminine, is by chance not recorded), shows a later development of meaning, for the earlier sense of the word was certainly ​‘neck’ merely; in Old Teutonic occurs a derivative signifying ‘necklace’; compare Old Icelandic men, Anglo-Saxon męne, Old Saxon męni, Old High German męnni, neuter, ‘necklace.’ To these are allied, in the non-Teutonic languages, Latin monile, ‘necklace, collar,’ Doric μάννος, μάνος, μόννος, ‘necklace,’ Keltic μανιάκης, equivalent to Old Irish muince, ‘necklace,’ Sanscrit mani, masculine, ‘string of pearls.’ An Old Indian *manâ, feminine, ‘neck,’ is wanting, though manyâ, feminine, ‘nape,’ occurs. Further, Old Irish muin, muinél, ‘nape,’ mong, ‘hair, mane,’ with which Swedish and Danish manke, mentioned above, is closely connected.
mahnen, verb, ‘to warn, admonish,’ from Middle High German manen, Old High German manôn, manên, ‘to remind, warn, challenge’; corresponding to Old Saxon manôn, Anglo-Saxon manian, ‘to. warn’; a derivative of the Aryan root mon, men, widely diffused in Old Teutonic, to which are allied the Gothic preterite present munan, ‘to be of opinion,’ Latin memini, reminiscor, men-s (men-te-m), Greek μένος, μιμνήσκω, and the Sanscrit root man, ‘to think’ (see Mann, meinen, and Minne). To Old High German manên (with the variant monên), Latin monêre, ‘to warn,’ with ŏ equivalent to Teutonic a (as in Latin molere, Gothic and Old High German malan), which is likewise formed from the root men, is most closely allied in sound and meaning.
Mahr, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German mar, mare, masculine and feminine, ‘incubus, nightmare,’ Old High German mara, feminine; compare Anglo-Saxon mara, masculine, English mare in nightmare, Old Icelandic mara, feminine, ‘incubus.’ The derivation from Gothic marzjan, ‘to vex,’ Old High German marren, męrren, ‘to hinder, disturb,’ is scarcely possible. Some etymologists connect the word with Slavonic-Russian kikimora, ‘ghost,’ Polish mora, Bohemian můro, ‘nightmare.’ From Mahr, French cauchemar, ‘nightmare,’ has also been derived (caucher, from Italian calcare, ‘to tread, press’).
Mähre, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German męrhe, Old High German męriha, marha, feminine, ‘mare’; feminine of the Old High German marah, marh, ‘horse,’ discussed under Marschall; compare Anglo-Saxon mýre, English mare, Dutch merrie, Old Icelandic merr, pointing to a Gothic *marhi (genitive *marhjôs). In German the feminine form has been preserved longer than the masculine, on which it is based (compare Frau, Magd, and Schwieger).
Mai, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German meie, Old High German meio, masculine, ‘May.’ Borrowed from Latin Mâjus (compare Italian maggio, French mai), ‘May,’ at the same period as August, März, and Jänner (old form for Januar).
Maid, feminine, ‘maid, servant,’ from Middle High German meit. See Magd.
Maie, masculine, ‘green boughs for adornment,’ from late Middle High German meie, masculine, ‘birch tree,’ whence Italian majo, French mai, ‘green boughs, maypole’; identical with Mai.
Mais, neuter, ‘maize,’ Modern High German only, a recent word in the Modern European languages, of American origin (mahis in Hayti); compare French mais, English maize, and Spanish maiz. Columbus is said to have imported the corn and its name.
Maische, see Meische.
Majoran, masculine, ‘marjoram,’ in Middle High German meigramme, masculine, and also meiron, meieron, ‘marjoram.’ From Middle Latin majorana; the Middle High German words seem to be based in sound on meie, ‘May.’ Compare Italian majorana, French marjolaine, English marjoram; the last two have also been corrupted?. The ultimate source of the- word is Greek ἁμάρακον, whence Latin amaracus and majoracus (based on major).
Makel, masculine, ‘stain, blot,’ from late Middle High German mâkel, masculine, which was borrowed from Latin macula, ‘spot.’
mäkeln, makeln, verb, ‘to transact business as a broker,’ Modern High German only; from the equivalent Low German mäkeln, Dutch makelen, which are allied to maken, ‘to make’ (handeln also combines the meanings ‘to make’ and ‘to traffic’). French maquereau (whence English mackerel), ‘pimp,’ is said to be derived from these cognates on account of Old High German huormahhâri, ‘pimp.’
Makrele, feminine, ‘mackerel,’ from late Middle High German makrêle, feminine; borrowed from the equivalent Dutch makreel (compare English mackerel), which is of Romance origin; Middle Latin macarellus, maquerellus, Old French maguerel, Modern French maquereau.
Mal (1.), neuter, ‘mark, spot,’ from Middle High German mâl, neuter, ‘spot,’ Old High German *mâl in the compound anamâli, ‘spot, car’; identical with Middle High German and Old High German mâl, ‘period, point’; see mal (2). Its primitive kinship with Gothic mail, neuter, ‘spot,’ is uncertain, yet Mal has at all events assumed the meaning of Gothic mail, which is normally represented by Old High German and Middle High German meil, neuter; to this corresponds Anglo-Saxon mâl, whence English mole. Gothic mél, ‘time,’ points to the Aryan root mē̆, ‘to measure’ (Greek μέτρον, Latin mêtîri).
-mal (2.), suffix of the multiplicatives and temporal adverbs (also a noun); it is based on Middle High German and Old High German mâl, ‘period’ ​(Gothic mél, see the preceding word). Even in Old High German the expressions z' einemo mâle, ‘once,’ ze drin mâlen, ‘thrice,’ manigen mâlen, ‘many a time,’ were formed; hence literally ‘at one period, at two, at many periods’; so too z' andermo mâle, ‘at another time’; hence Middle High German eines mâles, ‘once,’ literally ‘at one period.’ For the Old High German and Middle High German dative plurals mâlum, mâlen (ze drin mâlen, ‘thrice’), the apocopated form mal first appears in early Modern High German.
maledeien, vermaledeien, verb, from the equivalent Middle High German vermaledîen, later also maledîen, ‘to curse’; from Latin maledicere, whence also French maudire, Italian maledire.
malen, verb, ‘to paint,’ from Middle High German mâlen, literally ‘to furnish with a mark or sign,’ then ‘to colour, paint, write,’ Old High German mâlôn, mâlên, ‘to paint, draw’; allied to Old High German mât; ‘point,’ signifying also ‘period’ according to mal (2), mentioned under Mal (1). Akin also to Gothic mêla, neuter plural, ‘writing, documents,’ mêljan, ‘to write, record.’
malmen, zermalmen, verb, ‘to crush to pieces, grind,’ Modern High German only, but apparently, on account of the infrequency of the m-suffix, far older. The non-occurrence of Old High German *mâlmôn and Middle High German *malmen is probably only an accident; in Middle High German zermaln and zermüln, ‘to grind,’ are used. The suffix m is seen in the nouns, Gothic malma, masculine, ‘sand,’ and Old Saxon, Old High German, and Middle High German mëlm,. masculine, ‘dust’; to these are allied Müll and Gemüll, Middle High German gemülle, Old High German gimulli, ‘dust, mould’ For the root mal see under mahlen.
Malter, masculine and neuter, ‘measure’ (in Prussian formerly about 18 bush.), from Middle High German malter, malder, neuter, ‘corn measure’; compare Old High German maltar, Old Saxon maldar, neuter, ‘measure.’ Formed by means of the Teutonic suffix -þra-, -dra- (Greek τρο-, Latin tro-, compare Alter), from the root mal; see mahlen, Malter means literally ‘grinding,’ then ‘the quantity given to be ground at one time.’
Malve, feminine, ‘mallow,’ Modern High German only, from Latin (Italian) malva; if it were borrowed at an early period, lv in Latin ought to have changed into lb in Modern High German. In England the Latin term was adopted in very early times; hence Anglo-Saxon mealwe, English mallow (Dutch maluwe). Compare also French mauve.
Malz, neuter, ‘malt,’ from the equivalent Middle High German and Old High German malz, neuter; compare Old Saxon and Old Icelandic malt, neuter, Anglo-Saxon mealt, English malt (Gothic *malt, neuter); a common Teutonic word for ‘malt,’ which passed into Slavonic and Finnish (compare Old Slovenian mlato, Finnish mallas), and also into French as malt. Teutonic *maltas belongs to a Teutonic root melt, in Anglo-Saxon mëltan, ‘to dissolve, liquefy, melt,’ to which is allied an Old Icelandic adjective maltr, ‘rotten,’ similar to Old High German and Middle High German malz, ‘melting away, soft, relaxed.’ Perhaps the substantive Malz (Gothic *malt, neuter) is only the neuter of this adjective, meaning ‘that which is soft.’ See further schmelzen.
mampfen, verb, ‘to stutter,’ Modern High German only, of obscure origin.
man, pronoun, ‘one, they, people,’ from Middle High German and Old High German man; corresponding to Old Saxon and Anglo-Saxon man, Dutch men; properly nominative singular of the Modern High German substantive Mann, ‘homo’; so too Latin homo appears as a pronoun in French on (as well as homme). In the early periods (Middle High German, Old High German, and Anglo-Saxon) man was again represented by the 3rd personal pronoun singular (Middle High German and Old High German ër, Anglo-Saxon hê); hence man is literally ‘any man’; in Gothic manna is found only with a negation (ni manna, ‘nobody’); see jemand. The singular may have here a collective meaning, just as Sanscrit mánus (compare Mann), and pûrús in the singular signify ‘person, people, mankind.’
manch, adjective, ‘many a,’ from Middle High German manec (g), Old High German manag, adjective, ‘much, many a.’ The g has been preserved in Modern High German mannig-falt;. the change of g to ch in this word, which is first found in Modern High German, is due to Low German influence. Modern High German manec, Old High German manag, ‘much’; akin to Gothic manags, ‘much,’ so too Anglo-Saxon monig, English many, Old Saxon maneg, Dutch menig. From the Teutonic standpoint, the adjective may be derived from Gothic and Old High German mana-, ‘man, person,’ which originally always occurred in compounds; compare Gothic ga-man, neuter, ‘fellow-man,’ mana-sêþs, ‘mankind,’ Old High German manaheit, ‘valour,’ manalîhho, ‘likeness,’ &c. In that case, since the suffix ga-, equivalent to Greek κο-, Latin o, denotes ‘providing with something,’ the primary meaning of Gothic manags may have been ‘to provide with people.’ Yet Old Irish menice, ‘frequent,’ and Old Slovenian mănogŭ, ‘much,’ point to a primary word probably unconnected with Gothic and Old High German mana-, ‘person.’
Mandel (1.), ‘fifteen,’ Modern High German only; the other meaning, which appears in earlier Modern High German, ‘shock of corn (of 15 sheaves),’ may be the older. The German word cannot be etymologically explained. (Middle Latin ​mandala, ‘15 articles,’ is met with even in the 13th century); its relation to Dutch mand, English maund, ‘basket,’ is obscure.
Mandel (2.), feminine, ‘almond,’ from the equivalent Middle High German mandel, Old High German mandala, feminine; from Italian mandola; corresponding lo Middle Latin and Provençal amandola, French amande (hence Dutch amandel, English almond). Greek ἀμυγδάλη is usually regarded as the ultimate source of these cognates.
Mange, Mangel, feminine, ‘mangle,’ from Middle High German mange, feminine, ‘machine for rolling woven stuffs, catapult’; compare Dutch mangel, equivalent to English mangle. The origin of the word is sometimes ascribed, on account of the dialectic forms Mande, Mandel, to the Sanscrit root manth, ‘to turn,’ which appears in Old Icelandic mǫndull, ‘handle’ (especially of a hand-mill). Allied terms in Romance show, however, that g in the word Mangel must be very old; Italian mangano, ‘sling,’ Old French mangoneau, ‘sling,’ whence Middle English mangonel. There is no Teutonic type of the whole class; its source is said to be Greek μάγγανον, ‘warlike machine’; perhaps an instrument of this kind furnished the model for the mangle.
mangeln, verb, ‘to want, lack, be lacking,’ from Middle High German mangeln, Old High German mangolôn, ‘to dispense with, miss, be in want of'; Mangel, from Middle High German mangel, masculine, ‘want, defect.’ To this is allied Middle High German manc, ‘want, defect,’ also Old High German mangôn, męngen, ‘to be deficient’; Dutch mangelen, ‘to dispense with.’ A Teutonic root mang, mangw, does not occur elsewhere; it may be primitively allied to Latin mancus, ‘mutilated, powerless, deficient,’ from which early derivatives were formed in English, Anglo-Saxon gemancian, ‘to mutilate’; to this Dutch mank, ‘limping, deficient,’ and English to mangle are also akin.
Mangold, masculine, ‘beet,’ from Middle High German mangolt, masculine; its connection with Gold does not seem to be original. If it is to be connected, as is usually done, with the proper name Managolt, the primary meaning is ‘powerful ruler’ (manag and waltan; compare Πολυκράτης), but scarcely ‘very gracious’ (Viel-hold). See Markolf. By what means the plant acquired this name can no longer be discovered. Others regard Mangold as Halsgold, ‘gold-neck’ (compare Mähne); but mane-, ‘neck,’ is not found elsewhere in Teutonic.
Manier, feminine, ‘manner, fashion, mannerism,’ from Middle High German maniere, feminine, ‘manner,’ from French manière.
manig, see manch.
Mann, masculine, ‘man, husband,’ from Middle High German man(nn), Old High German man(nn), masculine, ‘person, man.’ The general meaning ‘person’ still appears in Modern High German jemand, niemand, as well as in the pronoun discussed under man. In Anglo-Saxon, man, mǫn (n equivalent to nn), might be used equally of a male or female, although the former sense preponderated; Anglo-Saxon man, ‘person, man, woman,’ English man, Old Icelandic maðr, Gothic manna, ‘person, man.’ The word followed the declension of the two stems mann- and mannan- (thus in Gothic, Anglo-Saxon, Old High German, and Middle High German); from the latter the modern plural Mannen has been obtained. Gothic and Teutonic mann- for manw- is based on an older manu- (like Kinn on kennu-, genu-; see also dünn). This Aryan mánu-, ‘person,’ appears also in Indian, but it was used also as Manu, ‘the father of mankind.’ To this corresponds the Teutonic Mannus in Tacitus, ‘the progenitor of the West Teutons’; compare further Sanscrit manus, masculine, and manuša, ‘person,’ perhaps also Old Slovenian mążĭ, ‘man.’ The Indian manu- is usually connected with the root man, ‘to think’ (compare mahnen); in that case the original sense is ‘thinking being.’ This cannot, however, be definitely regarded as the primitively source of the word. It is scarcely probable that the primitively Aryans considered ‘thinking’ to be the essential characteristic of a man. We should rather assume from the earliest Aryan literature, the Old Indian Vedas, that the primitively Aryan felt he was closely allied to the brutes, since the Vedic Indian actually calls himself paçu, ‘beast.’ The literal meaning of Aryan manu-, ‘person,’ can hardly be ascertained now. See Mensch.
mannig, see manch.
männiglich, pronoun ‘everybody,’ from Middle High German manne-gelîch, menneclîch, ‘every’; literally manne gelîch, Old High German manno glîh, ‘each of men,’ whence Old High German manniclîch and mannolîch, ‘every, each.’ Similarly täglich is based on Old High German tagogilîh, ‘every day.’ Old High German gilîh, ‘every,’ is identical with gleich.
manschen, verb, for earlier mantschen, ‘to splash, dabble,’ from Middle High German *mangezen, Old High German *mangazzen; allied to mengen.
Mantel, masculine, ‘cloak, mantle,’ from the equivalent Middle High German mantel, mandel, Old High German mantal, mandal, masculine; on account of the non-permutation of t to z the word cannot be cognate with Middle English mantel, English mantle, Old Icelandic mǫttul, masculine, ‘cloak,’ and hence it is not ​derived from the same root as Greek μανδύας, ‘upper garment.’ The Teutonic cognates are more probably based on Latin mantellum, from which Italian mantello and French manteau are derived.
Märchen, neuter, ‘fairy story, tale,’ diminutive of Märe, feminine, from Middle High German mœre, neuter and feminine, ‘tale, fiction, report, information,’ whence in Middle High German the diminutive mœrelîn, neuter, ‘short story, fairy story.’ Compare Old High German mârî, feminine, mâri, neuter, ‘rumour, information’; an abstract from Old High German mâri (Middle High German mœre), Gothic mêrs, ‘known, famed,’ which is recorded by old historians in many Old Teutonic proper names in the form mêrus, mêris; akin to SIav. mĕrŭ in Vladimĕrŭ, ‘Vladimir, Waldemar,’ Greek -μωρος in εγχεσίμωρος, ‘famed for wielding the spear,’ Old Irish már, mór, ‘great, of repute’; for the comparative of this primitive adjectival stem mê-ro-, see under mehr.
Marder, masculine, ‘marten,’ from the equivalent Middle High German marder (and mader), masculine, Old High German mardar, masculine; allied to Old Icelandic mǫrðr, ‘marten,’ and Anglo-Saxon mearþ (also meard), ‘marten, weasel’ (without the suffix r, like Middle High German mart, ‘marten’). Whether we are to assume Gothic *marþus or *marþuza remains uncertain. Yet the cognates are probably of genuine Teutonic origin (from pre-Teutonic martu-), to which Middle Latin martus (Italian martes), with the corresponding Romance class also point — Italian martora, French martre, feminine (whence English marten).
Mark (1.), feminine, ‘marches, frontier,’ from Middle High German marc, ‘mark, token,’ Old High German marcha, feminine, ‘frontier, marches’; compare Old Saxon marca, ‘territory,’ Anglo-Saxon mearc, feminine, ‘frontier, territory’ (English march is not based on the Anglo-Saxon form, the c of which would not have changed to ch, but on Old French marche, ‘frontier,’ which is of Teutonic origin). To Gothic marka, feminine, ‘frontier,’ corresponds Old Icelandic mǫrk, ‘wood,’ with a remarkable change of meaning; woods in Teutonic times were often the natural boundaries between nations. The originally meaning of the cognates of ‘frontier’ is supported by their primitive kinship with Latin margo, ‘border,’ as well as by Old Irish brú (from the primary form *mrog), ‘border,’ Irish bruig, Welsh and Cornish bro, ‘district, country, region,’ Modern Persian marz, ‘frontier, marches.’ From Teutonic are derived Italian marca, French marche, ‘frontier.’ See Mark (2) and Marke.
Mark (2.), feminine, ‘mark’ (coin), from Middle High German marc, marke, feminine, ‘mark, half a pound of silver or gold’; Old High German *marka (whence Middle Latin marca, which first appears in documents in the latter half of the 9th century), Anglo-Saxon and Middle English marc, Old Icelandic mǫrk, feminine, ‘mark, half a pound of silver.’ Its origin is obscure; the assumption that Marke, ‘designation, sign’ (with reference to the stamp), is a cognate, is not proved, since Mark originally denoted a definite weight, and not a particular coin.
Mark (3.), neuter, from the equivalent Middle High German marc (genitive marges), neuter, ‘marrow, pith’; the Middle High German g has been preserved in mergeln; Old High German marg, marag, neuter, Old Saxon marg, neuter, Dutch merg, neuter, Anglo-Saxon mearg, neuter, English marrow, Old Icelandic mergr, masculine, ‘marrow’; in this word r is due to Gothic z, according to the law of rhotacism; Gothic *mazga- is wanting. The latter points to pre-Teutonic *mazgho-, to which Old Slovenian mozgŭ, masculine, Zend mazga, Sanscrit majjan, ‘marrow,’ all with a normal loss of the aspirate, correspond. The root is Sanscrit majj, ‘to immerse,’ to which Latin mergere is allied.
Marke, feminine, ‘mark, token’; from Middle High German marc (genitive markes), neuter, ‘sign’; compare Dutch marke, ‘mark, characteristic’; Anglo-Saxon mearc, neuter, English mark, Old Icelandic mark, neuter, ‘sign’; Gothic *mark is wanting. Whether these cognates are connected with those of Mark (1), ‘frontier, marches,’ literally ‘border,’ is uncertain; the meaning ‘frontier,’ which was proved by the allied languages to be primitive, can scarcely be the starting point for ‘sign’; the contrary is the more probable. It has with greater reason been compared with Lithuanian márgas, ‘variegated.’ Compare merken. From Teutonic a Romance class is derived; compare French marque, remarquer, &c.
Markolf, masculine, ‘jay,’ first occurs in early Modern High German; it has passed from the fables of animals into general use; liter. Mark-wolf, ‘boundary wolf,’ used in the Old High German period as a proper name (Marcolf). Similarly in Reineke Vos, Marquart is the name of the jay, formed from the Old High German proper name Marcwart, literally ‘frontier guardian.’
Markt, masculine, ‘market, market-place,’ from Middle High German markt, market, masculine, ‘fair, market, market-place,’ Old High German markât, mërkât, mërchât, masculine; borrowed in Old High German from the equivalent Latin mercâtus with a German accent; from the same source come Dutch markt and English market. Modern High German markten, verb, ‘to buy, bargain,’ from Middle High German marketen, ‘to be at the market, to bargain.’ The e of the Latin original has been preserved in ​Suabian and Alemannian Märkt; the variant with a points to the French a. Compare in Romance, Italian mercato, French marché (whence Middle English and English market).
Marmel, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German marmel, Old High German marmul, masculine, ‘marble’; from the Latin word by differentiating r-r to r-l.
Marsch, feminine, ‘marsh, moor,’ Modern High German only, a Low German word. Low German marsch, Middle Dutch maersche, ‘pasture ground,’ Anglo-Saxon męrsc, masculine, and the equivalent English marsh, Danish marsk, ‘bog.’ Gothic *marisks may be assumed as a derivative of Gothic marei, ‘ocean’ (see Meer); similarly Modern High German Au is a derivative of Gothic ahwa, ‘water.’ Compare Middle Latin mariscus, ‘marsh,’ and some of the Romance words connected with it, such as Old French maresc, Modern French marais, Italian marese, which may, however, be partly derivatives of Latin mare.
Marschall, masculine, ‘marshal,’ derived, partly under the influence of French maréchal, from Middle High German marschale, masculine, which literally and originally signified ‘horse-servant,’ then ‘overseer of the train of servants on journeys and expeditions, as a municipal or court official; marshal.’ Old High German marahscalc is a compound of Schalk, ‘servant,’ and marah, ‘horse’; even the Lex Salica and the Leg. Alemannian record the term mariscalus, besides which, in Middle Latin marscallus occurs. From Teutonic are derived the Romance cognates — Italian mariscalco, French maréchal, ‘farrier, marshal,’ as well as the Middle Latin version, comes stabuli, French connétable. Old High German marah, neuter, Middle High German marc, neuter, ‘steed, horse,’ Anglo-Saxon mearh, Scandinavian marr, neuter.; Gothic *marh is wanting. It originated, in exact accordance with the permutation of consonants, from pre-Teutonic marka-, in which form it is recorded as Old Keltic by Pausanias; compare with this Old Irish marc and Welsh march, ‘horse.’ There is, however, no linguistic necessity for deriving Teutonic marha- from Keltic. The word marh, the feminine of which, Mähre, has been preserved, was supplanted at a later period by Roß and then Pferd. To this word Marstall is akin.
Marstall, masculine, ‘royal or public stable,’ from Middle High German marstal (genitive -stalles), masculine, ‘stable for horses.’ For the originally marhetal, like Middle High German marschalc, for marh-schalc, see Stall; and with regard to marh-, compare the preceding word.
Marter, feminine, ‘torture, rack,’ from Middle High German marter, martere, feminine, originally ‘martyrdom,’ especially ‘the Passion,’ then ‘torture, torment, persecution, rack,’ Old High German martira, martara, feminine (also with l, Old High German martela, Middle High German martel); formed from Greek and Latin martyrium. The derivative Märtyrer is from Middle High German męrterer, marterer, Old High German martirâri, ‘martyr,’ for which the forms martir, martyr, equivalent to Latin-Greek martyr, ‘martyr for the truth of Christianity,’ rarely occur. The Eccles. Latin meaning ‘torture,’ which is foreign to Greek, is found also in the Romance cognates of martyrium. Compare Italian martirio, French martyre.
März, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German męrze, masculine, Old High German męrzo, marzeo, masculine, ‘March,’ from Latin (mensem) Martium. The corresponding Westphalian märte, Middle Low German męrte, as well as Dutch maart, make it probable that März was borrowed previous to the Old High German permutation of consonants about the era of the Merovings, and in fact contemporaneously with August, Jänner, and Mai. English March, Mid. marche, was borrowed at a some what later period from Old Irish march (Modern French mars).
Masche, feminine, ‘mesh, stitch,’ from Middle High German mā̆sche, Old High German and Old Low German mā̆sca, feminine, ‘mesh, snare’; compare Anglo-Saxon mœ̂sce, English mesh, Old Icelandic mǫskve, masculine; Gothic *mêsqa, *masqa, are by chance not recorded. According to the permutation of consonants, the latter is based on pre-Teutonic mêzga- (mosga-); compare Lithuanian mázgas, ‘threads interlaced, knot,’ which is connected with a verb mezgù (mègsti), ‘to tie knots, knit (nets).’ Thus Masche may be traced to a Teutonic root mêsg (pre-Teutonic and Aryan mē̆zg), ‘to plait.’
Maser, feminine, ‘vein (in wood), speck, spot,’ from Middle High German maser, masculine, Old High German masar, neuter, ‘vein, knotty excrescence on the maple and other trees’ (Middle High German also ‘goblet of speckled wood’); compare Anglo-Saxon maser, ‘knot in wood,’ English measles; Old Icelandic mǫsurr, masculine, ‘maple’ (mǫsur-bolle, ‘maple bowl’). Allied to Old High German masa, feminine, ‘wound, scar.’ The Teutonic class is the source of Romance derivatives. Compare French madré, ‘speckled,’ Middle Latin scyphi maserini, ‘drinking vessels.’
Maske, feminine, ‘mask, disguise, masquerader,’ from French masque; the equivalent Suabian and Bavarian maskere is more closely connected with Italian maschera as well as Spanish mascara, ‘division’; compare also Dutch and English masker. Perhaps the origin of the entire class is to be sought for in Romance.
Masse, feminine, ‘mass, bulk, heap,’ from Middle High German masse, feminine, ‘misshapen stuff, mass,’ especially ‘lumps of metal.’ Borrowed in the ​late Old High German period (by Notker), as massa, feminine, from Latin massa.
Mast (1.), masculine (probably quite unknown to Suabian and Bavarian), ‘mast,’ from Middle High German and Old High German mast, masculine, ‘pole, flagstaff, spear-shaft,’ especially ‘ship's mast, tree fit for a mast’; compare Low German and Dutch mast, Anglo-Saxon mœst, masculine English mast, Old Icelandic mastr, ‘mast.’ Gothic *masta-, masculine, ‘mast, pole,’ is wanting. According to the permutation of consonants, the latter is based on pre-Teutonic mazdo- (compare Ast, Gerste, and Nest); did Latin mâlus for *mâdus originate in this? (also Irish matan, ‘club,’ maite, ‘stick’?). Similarly Fisch (piscis) and Meer (mare) are primitively allied.
Mast (2), ‘mast (for fattening),’ from Middle High German and Middle Low German mast, masculine, feminine, and neuter, ‘food, acorns, fattening,’ Old High German mast; compare Anglo-Saxon mœst, feminine, English mast. Gothic *masta is derived, according to the permutation of consonants, from a primitive form mazdo-, to which Sanscrit mêdas, neuter, ‘fat,’ mêdáy, ‘to fatten,’ also points. The Modern High German verbal noun mästen comes from Middle High German and Old High German męsten; Dutch mesten, Anglo-Saxon mœstan, ‘to fatten’; to this is allied the Modern High German adjective participle mast, Old High German mast, Anglo-Saxon gemœst, ‘fat, fattened.’ In Middle High German gemast, gemęstet.
Maß, neuter, ‘measure, standard, proportion,’ from Middle High German mâȥ, neuter, ‘measure, manner’; usually in Middle High German mâȥe, feminine, ‘measure, definite extent of time, space, weight, strength; moderation, temperance,’ Old High German mâȥa, feminine; compare Dutch maat, Old Icelandic máte, masculine, ‘method.’ With the Teutonic root mē̆t (in messen), from pre-Teutonic mē̆d, Latin mŏdus, ‘manner,’ is also connected.
Maße, feminine, ‘measure,’ allied to Middle High German mâȥe; see under Maß, neuter.
maßen, conjunction, ‘whereas,’ from the dative plural mâȥen (of Middle High German mâȥe), ‘in the method’; originally used only as an adverb, but in Modern High German as a conjunction also; allied to Maß.
Maßholder, masculine, ‘maple,’ from Middle High German maȥalter, maȥolter, masculine, Old High German maȥȥaltra, maȥȥoltra, feminine, ‘maple’; the Modern High German form is due to its connection with Holunder (older variant Holder). The Old High German maȥȥoltra is like affoltra, ‘apple tree,’ from apfol, a derivative of a primary Gothic *matls. Anglo-Saxon mapuldr, English maple tree, with the recorded base mapol, English maple, has, instead of the High German dental, an abnormal labial, presupposing Gothic *mapls; so too Old Icelandic mǫpurr, masculine, ‘maple.’ On account of Old High German maȥȥaltra (ȥȥ for Gothic t), Maßholder cannot be connected with Maser (s equivalent to Gothic s); nor does it belong to Old High German maȥ, neuter, ‘food,’ Ahorn as ‘food tree’ being improbable, although maple-juice is used as a medicinal draught. Gothic *matla-, or rather *mapla-, is of obscure origin. Compare also Ahorn, where an earlier term is given. The Modern High German form Maßeller is, like Maßholder, a corruption of the Middle High German word. With regard to the Old High German suffix -tra, compare Apfel, Wacholder, and Holunder.
mäßig, adjective, ‘moderate,’ from Middle High German mœȥec, Old High German mâzîg, adjective, ‘moderate, temperate; of moderate size’; a derivative of Maß, Maße. Compare Dutch matig, ‘moderate.’
Maßlieb, neuter, ‘daisy, Easter daisy,’ Modern High German only, formed from Middle Dutch matelief, Modern Dutch madelief, feminine, ‘daisy’; of obscure origin; perhaps allied to Matte?.
Matratze, feminine, ‘mattress,’ from Middle High German matraȥ, materaz, masculine and neuter, ‘couch stuffed with wool, divan’; compare Dutch matras, English mattress. The High German form with tz is formed from Middle Latin matratium, which, with its corresponding Romance cognate, French matelas, is usually derived from an Arab source; Arabic matrah, ‘pillow,’ literally ‘place where something is thrown.’
Matrose, masculine, ‘sailor,’ Modern High German only, from the equivalent Dutch matroos; Danish and Swedish matros. They are based on French matelot (Old French matenot), ‘sailor,’ which again is derived through a Norman medium from Scandinavian mötunautr, ‘messmate’ (the crew was divided into companies, who took their meals together).
matt, adjective, ‘checkmated; faint, languid, insipid,’ from Middle High German mat (genitive mattes), adjective, ‘checkmated’ (also figuratively), which was adopted from Romance in the latter half of the 12th century; compare French mat. Italian matto, Middle Latin mattus, whence also Dutch mat, English mate. This characteristic term, which was introduced with chess, is formed from Arabic and Persian schâh mât, ‘the king is dead.’ See Schach.
Matte (1.), feminine (an Alemannian word unknown to Suabian and Bavarian), from the equivalent Middle High German mate, matte, feminine, ‘mead, meadow’; Old High German *matta, feminine, is wanting (but Old High German mato-scrëch, ‘grasshopper,’ is preserved). Gothic *maþwa, *mêdwa, is not recorded; compare English meadow, mead, from Anglo-Saxon mœ̂d (genitive mœ̂dwe), ‘meadow,’ Middle Low German mâde, Old Low German mâtha, mada, Old Frisian mêth. They seem to be based on a Teutonic root mâþ, med, which is connected with Latin mêto, ‘to ​mow, reap,’ and which has a shorter form, mê, in Modern High German mähen.
Matte (2.), feminine, ‘mat,’ from Middle High German matte (late Middle High German also matze), Old High German matta, feminine, ‘covering woven of straw, rushes, &c., mat’; Dutch mat, Anglo-Saxon meatte, feminine, English mat. The correspondence of the High German and Low German-English dental indicates that the word was borrowed, and as a fact it was introduced during the Old High German period. It is based on Latin matta, ‘mat made of rushes.’
Matz, masculine, ‘Mat; simpleton; pet name for tame birds’; Modern High German only; probably a pet name for Mathias, ‘Matthias,’ and Matthäus, ‘Matthew’; the intermediate form is Mattes.
Matzen, masculine, ‘passover bread,’ early Modern High German; from Jewish mazzo, Hebrew mazzôth, ‘unleavened bread,’ whence also late Middle High German, or rather early Modern High German Mafanze, ‘passover bread.’
mauen, verb, from the equivalent Middle High German mâwen, ‘to mew like a cat’; an imitative word; compare Mietze.
Mauer, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German mûre, mûr, singular, ‘wall,’ Old High German mûra, feminine (mûri, feminine), ‘wall,’ from Latin mûrus, with an abnormal change of gender, which is probably caused by an Old Teutonic word for ‘wall’; compare Gothic waddjus, feminine. At the same period, before the High German permutation, Old Saxon mûr, Anglo-Saxon mûr, masculine (Old Irish múr), were also borrowed from the Latin, like other words relating to stone buildings; compare Siegel, Fenster, Pforte, Speicher, &c.
Mauke, feminine, with a Low German guttural, from the equivalent Middle High German mûche, feminine, ‘malanders,’ hence the strictly High German form Mauche (Bavarian). Of obscure origin; perhaps allied to Gothic mûks, ‘soft, tender’?.
Maul (1.), neuter, ‘mouth (of beasts), muzzle’ (in Upper German Maul is also used for Mund, ‘mouth of men’), from Middle High German mûl, mûle, neuter, mûle, feminine (Middle German), ‘mouth,’ Old High German mûla, feminine, ‘mouth,’ also ‘beak’; Dutch muil, Old Icelandic múle, masculine, ‘mouth, snout’; Gothic *mûlô, neuter, ‘mouth,’ is wanting, but is authenticated by the derivative faurmâljan, ‘to muzzle.’ This word is an l derivative from the root mû, from which High German Mund, with a participle suffix. nþ, is also formed; see Mund.
Maul (2.), neuter, ‘mule,’ in Maultier, neuter, Maulesel, masculine, from Middle High German mûltier, neuter, mûlesel, masculine, yet ordinarily simply mûl, masculine and neuter, mûle, masculine, ‘mule,’ Old High German mûl, masculine; borrowed from Latin mûlus. From the same source Dutch muil, m muilezel, Anglo-Saxon mûl, English mule, as well as Old Irish múl, are derived.
Maulbeere, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German mûlber, neuter and feminine, ‘mulberry,’ which originated, by differentiating r to l, from Old High German mûr-beri, môr-beri, neuter. The fluctuation from ô to û in Old High German indicates that the word was borrowed from Latin môrum, ‘mulberry,’ môrus, ‘mulberry tree,’ whence also Dutch moerbes, Anglo-Saxon and Middle English môrberie and mûrberie, Middle English also mulberie, English mulberry.
Maulwurf, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German môltwërf, moltwërfe, masculine, ‘mole,’ literally ‘the animal that throws up the soil’ (Middle High German molte, feminine). The Modern High German form is a corruption of the Middle High German word, which is recorded even in the Middle High German and Old High German periods in various forms (Middle High German mûwërf, mûlwërf, mûlwëlf, mûrwërf). Other Modern High German corrupt forms are the dialectic Moltwurm, Maulwurm, and Maulwolf. Old High German moltwerf, multwurf, masculine, ‘mole,’ are connected with Middle High German molte, feminine, molt, masculine, ‘dust, mould, soil,’ Old High German molta, feminine, molt, masculine; compare Gothic mulda, feminine, ‘dust, mould,’ Anglo-Saxon molde, English mould; properly a feminine substantive from the participle formed with da- from the root mal, ‘to crush, pulverise,’ hence mul-da; compare falt, alt, laut, and zart. In Middle English also moldwerp, ‘mole’ occurs; of this Middle English mole, Dutch, Westphalian, and Frisian mol are shortened forms?. These, however, are probably independent forms from the root mal. Another name for mole appears in Old High German scëro, Middle High German schër, Suabian and Alemannian Schärmaus.
Maus (1.), ‘mouse,’ from the equivalent Middle High German and Old High German mûs, feminine; compare Dutch muis, Anglo-Saxon mûs, feminine, English mouse, Old Icelandic mús (Gothic *mûs), feminine, ‘mouse.’ In the consonantal form of the stem, mûs-, it is the common Teutonic as well as the common Aryan term for ‘mouse.’ The name occurs in almost all the Aryan languages, a proof that the Aryans in their primitive Asiatic home were already acquainted with the tiny animal, chiefly through its thefts, mûs- being derived from an Old Aryan root, mū̆s, ‘to steal,’ which exists in the Franconian chrêomosido, ‘plundering dead bodies,’ of the Lex Salica, and signifying ‘thief’ (it is possible, however, that the mū̆s, ‘to steal,’ is deduced from mûs, ‘mouse’). Compare Sanscrit mûš, ‘mouse,’ with the root muš, mušây, ‘to take away, rob’; also Greek μῦς, Old Slovenian myšĭ, feminine. Compare further the following word.
Maus (2.), properly ‘muscles on the arm and foot,’ now especially ‘ball of the thumb,’ ​from Middle High German mûs, feminine, ‘muscles especially of the upper part of the arm’; Old High German mûs, Anglo-Saxon mûs, Dutch muis, have the same sense; properly identical with Maus (1). In other cases too names of animals are applied to parts of the body. Compare Greek μῦς, ‘muscle,’ μυών, ‘cluster of muscles,’ Latin mus-culus, ‘muscle,’ literally ‘little mouse,’ Old Slovenian myšĭca, ‘arm,’ Sanscrit muš-ka, ‘testicle, pudenda muliebria,’ literally ‘little mouse.’
mauscheln, verb, ‘to act like a cheat,’ literally ‘mosaizare’; allied to Mausche, equivalent to Hebrew Môschâh, ‘Moses.’
Mause, Mauser; feminine, ‘moulting, casting the skin, moulting season,’ from Middle High German mûȥe, feminine (in compounds mûȥer). ‘mewing, moulting’; Old High German *mûȥȥa, feminine, ‘moulting,’ is not recorded; allied to Old High German mûȥȥôn, Middle High German mûȥen, ‘to exchange for,’ Middle High German also especially ‘to moult, cast the skin.’ Borrowed before the Old High German period (contemporaneously with Käfig, Pfau, and Pips) from Latin mûtâre, hence the permutation of t to ȥ (Middle Latin mûta, ‘moulting’); sz has been preserved in Bavarian maußen. From the same source are derived Anglo-Saxon bimûtian, ‘to change, exchange,’ Middle English moutin, English to moult, as well as French muer, ‘to moult,’ mue, ‘moulting.’
mausen, verb, ‘to catch mice, pilfer,’ from Middle High German musen, ‘to creep, deceive’; a derivative of Middle High German mûs, equivalent to Maus.
mausig, adjective, ‘pert, saucy,’ Modern High German only (sich, mausig machen, ‘to bray, bluster’), allied to Mauser, ‘moulting,’ literally ‘one that moults, mews, dresses smartly in order to make himself conspicuous.’
Maut, feminine, ‘toll, duty,’ a Bavarian word, from Middle High German mûte, feminine, Old High German mûta, feminine, ‘toll.’ The current derivation from Middle Latin mûta is not satisfactory, since the latter word is not recorded until late (first half of the 9th century), and that as a German word, nullum teloneum neque quod lingua theodisca Muta vocatur; ann. 837. Gothic môta, feminine, ‘toll,’ is the earliest recorded term. Yet Old High German mûta and Gothic môta (also Old Icelandic and Old Swedish múta, ‘fee, gratuity, bribe’) are not equivalent, since Gothic môta (Anglo-Saxon môt) leads to Old High German *muoȥa, and Old High German mûta to Gothic *mûda. Probably the Old Bavarian word was borrowed about the 8th century, after the High German permutation of consonants, from a dialectic closely allied to the Gothic (Gothic ô tended towards û); to this is also allied Old Slovenian myto, ‘toll.’ An earlier loan-word is also recorded in MidHigh German muoȥe, ‘toll, tax,’ which points to Old High German *muoȥa, and which has been preserved in Bavarian Mueß, ‘miller’s fee.’ Yet the word may have been primitively allied to the Gothic. The term Zoll, which is cognate in meaning, is also of obscure origin.
meckern, verb, ‘to bleat,’ Modern High German only; Middle High German has an equivalent word by a different derivation from the same stem, mëchzen, ‘to bleat,’ allied to Middle High German mëcke, masculine, ‘he-goat,’ as a nickname (Gothic *m(illegible text)gga, ‘he-goat,’ is wanting). Compare the pre-Teutonic root mak in Greek μηκάομας, ‘to bleat.’
Meer, neuter, ‘ocean, sea,’ from Middle High German męr, neuter, Old High German męri, earlier mari, masculine and neuter, ‘ocean’; compare Old Saxon męri, feminine, Dutch meer, neuter, Anglo-Saxon męre, masculine, English mere (to which merman, mermaid, are allied), Old Icelandic marr, masculine, Gothic marei, feminine (and *mar, neuter, preserved in the compound mari-saivs, ‘ocean’). The common Teutonic word for ‘ocean,’ primary Teutonic mari, neuter (or mori, recorded by Pliny as a Cimbrian form), which is partly common to the West Aryan tribes (so too Latin lacus, Old Irish loch, equivalent to Old Low German lagu, ‘ocean’); Latin mare, neuter, Old Slovenian morjc, neuter, ‘ocean,’ Lithuanian máres, ‘Kurisches Haff,’ Old Irish muir (from mori), ‘ocean’; to these are allied Greek Αμφίμαρος, ‘son of Poseidon,’ as well as ἀμάρα, feminine, ‘trench, conduit’ (compare Old Frisian mar, ‘trench, pond’)?. These cognates are usually connected with the Aryan root mar, ‘to die’ (compare Mord, Latin morior), so that the ocean was named in “contrast to the living vegetation” of the mainland, just as in Indian also marus, ‘desert,’ is referred to the root mar, ‘to die’; this, however, is no more probable than the derivation of Mann from the root men, ‘to think.’ Compare Marsch and Moor.
Meerrettig, masculine, ‘horse-radish,’ allied to Meer, like Herzog to Heer, vierte (ĭ) to vier (ī), &c.; corresponding to Middle High German męrręttich, Old High German męri-ratich, masculine, ‘radish that has come from over the sea, transpontine radish.’ The English term horse-radish, Meerrettig, is curious, and suggests the idea that Meer- in this case is equivalent to Mähre. Dutch mierikwortel, Westphalian mirrek, Hessian Merchhorn, seem to be of the same origin.
Mehl, neuter, ‘meal, flour, dust,’ from Middle High German mël (genitive mëlawes), neuter, Old High German mëlo (genitive mëlawes), neuter; corresponding to Old Saxon mël, Dutch meel, Anglo-Saxon mëlu (genitive mëlwes), neuter, English meal, Old Icelandic mjǫl (genitive plural mjǫlva), ‘meal’; the common Teutonic word for ‘meal’; Gothic *milwa (genitive *milwis) is ​by chance not recorded. It is a specifically Teutonic derivative of the root mal, ‘to grind,’ of which the form mel is authenticated by Slavonic and Irish; see mahlen. While the verb mahlen is common to West Aryan, the form of the word Mehl, from the root mel, is peculiar to Teutonic; it may also be remarked that the substantive is found in English, though not the corresponding verb. There is also a derivative from the same root in Keltic; compare Welsh blawd, Breton bleud (from mlât).
Mehltau, masculine, ‘mildew, blight,’ corrupted from the equivalent Middle High German miltou, neuter, Old High German mili-tou, neuter; compare Anglo-Saxon meledeáw (miledeáw), English mildew. The opinions as to the origin of the first component are various. The most probable derivation is that from Gothic miliþ, neuter, ‘honey’ (compare Old Icelandic milska, feminine, ‘sweet drink’), to which in West Teutonic a substantive mili (Greek μέλι, stem μέλιτ-, Latin mel) is possibly akin; hence Mehltau, ‘honeydew’?. It is less probable that the word was borrowed from or was primitively allied to the equivalent Greek μίλτος, so that Tau may have been an explanatory addition (compare Lindwurm and Windhund). It is also possible that Old High German mili-, Anglo-Saxon mele-, mile-, is connected with Mehl, and a special formation from the root mel, ‘to grind.’ In that case the Modern High German change of Miltau into Mehltau is warranted by etymology; Mehltau is defined as ‘a greyish-white, meal-like coating on plants in summer.’
mehr, adjective and adverb, ‘more,’ from Middle High German mêr; comparative of viel; also, doubly compared, mêrer, mē̆rre, ‘greater or larger’ (of space, number, and value); further indeclinable mêre, mêr, mê, ‘plus’; Old High German mêr, undeclin. neuter and comparative adverb, ‘more, plus, magis, amplius,’ adjective mêro, ‘major, greater’ (also with the addition of the comparative suffix mêrôro, mêriro, ‘major’). Old High German mêro originated in maizo, Gothic maiza, the -iza- of which is the Old Teutonic comparative suffix (compare besser, Gothic batiza; höher, Gothic hauhiza); compare Anglo-Saxon mâ, adverb and neuter substantive, ‘more,’ adjective mâra, English more. The corresponding superlative is meist. Gothic maiza, for *majiza, belongs, with the Gothic superlative maists (see meist), to the Teutonic adjective mê-rs, ‘projecting,’ discussed under Märchen.
mehrer, adjective, ‘greater, several,’ from Middle High German mêrer, comparative adjective. See mehr.
meiden, verb, ‘to avoid, shun, refrain,’ from Middle High German mîden, ‘to dispense with, suffer want, eschew, forsake, refrain from’; Old High German mîdan, ‘to hide oneself from, keep secret, eschew, refrain from’; compare Old Saxon mîthan, Anglo-Saxon mîðan, ‘to hide, conceal, refrain from.’ The original sense of the cognates seems to be ‘to hide, remain far from,’ but definitely related terms are wanting; Latin amitto, Lithuanian pa-metù, ‘to thrown away,’ are not connected. For other words similar in sound see under miß and missen.
Meier, neuter, ‘head-servant on an estate, land-steward, farmer,’ from Middle High German meier, meiger, masculine, Old High German meior, meier, masculine; it corresponds to the early Middle Latin major domus, which literally denoted ‘the steward of the household servants’; hence Old High German and Middle High German meier, ‘steward of an estate, manager or lessee of an estate.’ From Latin major, French maire is also derived.
Meile, feminine (rare in Suabian and Bavarian), ‘mile’ (about five English miles), from the equivalent Middle High German mîle, Old High German mîla, mîlla (for mîlja), feminine; corresponding to Dutch mijl, Anglo-Saxon mîl, English mile, Scandinavian míla, feminine, ‘mile’; from Latin mîlia (passuum), ‘thousand paces,’ whence also Italian miglia, French mille. It properly denotes ‘a measure of a thousand paces (singular mille passuum).’ The more frequent plural mîlia was adopted in Romance and German, chiefly as a feminine singular, without the addition of passuum (Italian formed the singular miglio, ‘mile,’ from the plural miglia). The word was borrowed in the first century contemporaneously with Straße (Italian lega, French lieue, ‘league,’ a later word of Keltic origin, was never adopted in German).
Meiler, masculine, ‘charcoal-kiln,’ from late Middle High German meiler, mîler, masculine, ‘stack of wood for making charcoal’; the î of the Middle High German primary form is attested by Modern High German and Low German dialects. The word cannot be derived from Slavonic (Czech milíř, Polish mieleřz, ‘charcoal kiln,’ are themselves of German origin). Since it may have denoted originally a definite number of objects (compare Carinthian meiler, ‘a definite number of bars in a stack of pig-iron’), we might connect it with Latin mîliarium, ‘thousand’ (see the similar case of Decher).
mein, possessive pronoun, ‘my,’ from Middle High German and Old High German mîn; in the same form it is the common Teutonic possessive pronoun from the stem me- of the personal pronoun (mir, mich, thus even in Middle High German and Old High German). This stem me- (in Gothic mi-s, ‘to me,’ mi-k, ‘me,’ accusative) is ​according to Latin meus, mihi, Greek μέ, Sanscrit ma, common to the Aryan division. Further details belong to grammar.
Meineid, masculine, ‘false oath, perjury,’ from the equivalent Middle High German meincit, Old High German meincid, masculine; corresponding to Old Saxon mênêth, Dutch meineed, Anglo-Saxon mânâþ, Old Icelandic meineiðr, masculine, ‘perjury.’ It is the common Teutonic word for ‘false oath’; only Gothic *main-aiþs is wanting. The first component is an adjective (or rather an adjective used as a substantive), Middle High German and Old High German mein, ‘false, deceitful,’ as masculine and neuter ‘falsity, injustice, outrage.’ In Middle High German ein meiner was also used for ein meineit; compare Old Saxon mên, Anglo-Saxon mân, masculine, ‘falsity, crime, outrage,’ Old Icelandic mein, neuter ‘damage, injury, misfortune’ (allied to meinn, adjective, ‘hurtful’). Modern High German gemein Gothic gamains) does not seem to be directly akin, although Middle High German mein, ‘outrage,’ may have been the source of the bad sense attached to the modern word. They are, however, finally connected with Slavonic words for Tausch, ‘exchange’ (compare Tausch and. täuschen), Lithuanian maínas, ‘exchange,’ Old Slovenian měna, ‘change, alteration’ (Lettic nút, ‘to exchange’). In that case Latin commûnis and Gothic gamains (see gemein) would mean literally ‘being on a footing cf barter.’ It is probably not related to Latin mentîri.
meinen, verb, ‘to think, opine, mean,’ from Middle High German meinen, ‘to direct one's thoughts to, have in view, aim at, be affected towards a person, love,’ Old High German meinen, meinan, ‘to mean, think, say, declare’; compare Old Saxon mênian, Dutch meenen, Anglo-Saxon mœ̂nan, English to mean (to this Anglo-Saxon mœ̂nan, English to moan, are supposed to be allied); Gothic *mainjan is wanting. The most closely allied term is Old Slovenian měnja, měniti, ‘to mean.’ The latter, as well as West Teutonic meinen (assuming mainjan from mênjan)'is usually rightly connected with the man, ‘to think’ (compare mahnen, Mann, and Minne). The meaning ‘to love’ appears only in Middle High German, but with the revival of Middle High German literature it has been introduced into Modern High German poetry. —
Meinung, feminine, ‘opinion, meaning,’ from Middle High German meinung, Old High German meinunga, feminine, ‘thought, disposition, view.’
Meisch, masculine, Meische, feminine, ‘mash,’ from Middle High German meisch, masculine, ‘grape mash,’ also ‘mead, drink mixed with honey’; allied to English mash, which by chance not recorded in Anglo-Saxon and Middle English. It is very likely related by gradation to mischen, if the latter, as is probable, is a genuine Teutonic word; compare Middle English mâschien and the equivalent English to mash. With this agrees the further assumption that Middle High German meisch, ‘mead,’ is primitively allied to Old Slovenian mězga, ‘tree-juice’ (for Old Slovenian zg, equivalent to Teutonic sk, see mischen and Masche).
Meise, feminine, ‘titmouse,’ from the equivalent Middle High German meise, Old High German meisa, feminine; compare Dutch mees, Anglo-Saxon mâse (English only in titmouse, a corruption of tit-moase; Anglo-Saxon â is equivalent to English oa); Old Icelandic meisingr, masculine, with a suffix ‘titmouse.’ A term peculiar to Teutonic, which passed also into French (French mésange, ‘titmouse,’ formed from Scandinavian meisingr?); origin obscure. Only a few names of birds can be traced beyond the Teutonic group (compare Aar, Drossel, Specht, and Kranich).
meist, adjective and adverb, ‘most, mostly,’ from Middle High German meist, adjective, ‘greatest, most,’ adverb, ‘mostly, at best, very specially’ (a superlative of the comparative mehr, Middle High German mêr); compare Old High German meist, Gothic maists, from the Old High German posit. mihhil, Gothic mikils, ‘great.’ Gothic ma-ists has the old superlative suffix ist like Gothic bat-ists, Old High German beȥȥ-ist; from the stem ma- the Gothic comparative ma-iza is also formed. The forms of comparison seemed to be based on the Gothic adjectival stem mêrs, Old High German mâ-ri, ‘projecting.’ Compare also Old Saxon mêst, Dutch meest, Anglo-Saxon mœ̂st (mâst), English most.
Meister, masculine, ‘master, chief, leader,’ from Middle High German meister, masculine, ‘learned poet, meister-sänger (poets who were members of guilds), mayor, burgomaster,’ Old High German meistar; Old Saxon mêstar, Dutch meester, Anglo-Saxon mœgster. Borrowed from Latin magister, which in Middle Latin was applied to numerous offices. Compare further Italian maestro, French maître, English master, mister.
Meißel, masculine, ‘chisel,’ from Middle High German meiȥel, Old High German meiȥil, masculine, ‘chisel, tool for dressing and chipping’; allied to Old High German meiȥan, Middle High German meiȥen, ‘to hew, cut,’ Gothic maitan, ‘to hew, hew off’; thus too Old Icelandic meitell, masculine, ‘chisel,’ allied to meita, ‘to cut.’ All these belong to a Teutonic root mat, ‘to hew,’ which has been connected with the Teutonic root mat, ‘to hew,’ in Metze (Steinmetze). Compare also English mattock.
Melde (Bavarian molten), feminine, ‘orache’ (a plant), from the equivalent Middle High German and Middle Low German mëlde, and with a different gradation mulde, molte, feminine, Old High German mola, mulda (muolhta is incorrectly written for molta), feminine; of ​obscure origin. The derivation from the root mal, ‘to grind,’ to which Mehl is allied, does not give a suitable sense. Greek βλίτον (for *μλίτον), ‘orache,’ should rather be compared with the German word.
melden, verb, ‘to mention, notify, announce,’ from Middle High German mëlden, ‘to inform against, betray, announce, show, name’; compare Old High German mëldôn, Old Saxon mëldôn, Anglo-Saxon mëldian, ‘to inform against, betray’; a West Teutonic verb simply, meaning ‘to betray,’ to which other senses have been given in Middle High German Gothic *milþôn points to a Teutonic root *melþ, ‘to betray’; an equivalent pre-Teutonic *melt has not yet been authenticated.
melk, adjective, ‘giving milk, milch,’ from the equivalent Middle High German mële, mëlch, Old High German mëlch (equivalent to Anglo-Saxon mëlc), adjective; compare Old Icelandic mjolkr, milkr, Middle English milche, English milch, adjective (Anglo-Saxon *mylče is wanting); a verbal adjective from melken.
melken, verb, from the equivalent Middle High German mëlken, mëlchen, Old High German mëlchan, ‘to milk’; compare Dutch melken, Anglo-Saxon mëlcan (wanting in English, in which to milk is used); Icelandic mjalta, and also mjalter, ‘milking,’ mjaltr, ‘milch,’ but also from mjolk, ‘milk,’ mjolka, ‘to milk,’ and mjolkr, ‘milch’; Gothic *milkan is by chance not recorded. The Teutonic root melk is derived from the Aryan melg, which occurs with the same meaning in the West Aryan languages; compare Latin mulgere, Greek ἀμέλγει, Old Slovenian mlěsti (present mlŭzą), Lithuanian mìlsti (present mélžu). In the East Aryan languages the corresponding root appears with an older signification, ‘to wipe or rub off’ (compare Sanscrit mârj, mṛj, Zend marez). Melken is one of the characteristic words which point to a closer connection between the West Aryans compared with the East Aryans; compare Hanf and mahlen. See also Milch, Molke, and melk.
Memme, feminine, ‘poltroon,’ Modern High German only. A derivative of late Middle High German mamme, memme, feminine, ‘woman's breast’; literally ‘effeminate being, effeminate man.’
Menge, feminine, ‘crowd, multitude, mass,’ from Middle High German męnege, Old High German męnigî, managî, feminine, ‘multiplicity, great number, crowd’; an abstract from Old High German manag, ‘much’; Gothic managei, feminine, Anglo-Saxon męnigo, ‘multiplicity.’ Originally it was not connected with the following word, but in modern times it may be dimly thought to be akin to it.
mengen, verb, ‘to mingle, mix, blend,’ from Middle High German męngen, ‘to mix, mingle,’ feminine, introduced from Middle German and Low German; in Old High German, męngan occurs once as a Franconian word (in Isidore); Old Saxon męngian, Dutch mengen, Anglo-Saxon męngan, Middle English mengen, ‘to mix’ (whence English to mingle); Gothic *maggjan is wanting. Allied to Old Saxon gimang, Anglo-Saxon gemong, ‘mingling, commixtio, company, troop’; Anglo-Saxon on gemǫng, English among, so too Old Saxon an gimange. From these may be deduced a West Teutonic root mang, ‘to mix,’ which, however, is unknown to Suabian and Bavarian. It has been connected with hardly sufficient reason, with the root mik, ‘to mix’ (see mischen), which appears in most of the Aryan languages; it is more probably allied to Lithuanian mìnkau, mìnkyti, ‘to knead,’ mìnklas, ‘dough’ (Old Slovenian mękŭkŭ, ‘soft,’ mąka, ‘meal’). In that case mengen would be traced to a pre-Teutonic root meng, ‘to knead.’
Mennig, neuter, ‘vermilion,’ from the equivalent Middle High German mênig, minig, late Old High German minig, n,; based on Latin minium, ‘vermilion.’
Mensch, masculine and neuter, from the equivalent Middle High German męnsch, męnsche, masculine and neuter, ‘man, person, fellow,’ Old High German męnnisco, mannisco, masculine; compare Old Saxon męnnisco, Dutch mensch, ‘person.’ Simply a West Teutonic form, properly an adjective used as a substantive, hence ‘humanus’ for ‘homo.’ The adjective on which it is based is derived with the suffix iska (High German isch) from mann-, ‘homo’; Gothic mannisks, Old Icelandic mennskr, Anglo-Saxon, Old Saxon, and Old High German męnnisc, ‘humanus, human’ (compare further Anglo-Saxon męnnesc, ‘humanity’); compare manušýa as an adjective ‘human,’ and as masculine substantive ‘man,’ with Sanscrit mánu, mánus-, ‘man’ (see further under Mann). — Mensch in the neuter gender appears even in Middle High German, and was used till the 17th century without any contemptuous meaning; the neuter was generally applied to female servants, but that signification became obsolete in the last century, and a moral sense was attached to the word.
Mergel, masculine, ‘marl,’ from the equivalent Middle High German męrgel, Old High German męrgil, masculine; from Middle Latin margila, with the primary form marga, which is recorded by Pliny as a Keltic word; compare Breton marg, Welsh marl. From the same source the equivalent Romance words are derived — French marne (from Old French marle), Italian and Spanish marga.
mergeln, verb, ‘to emaciate, enervate,’ Modern High German only; derived with the ​compounds ab- and aus-mergeln from Mark (3), Middle High German marc, marges.
merken, verb, ‘to mark, note, observe,’ from Middle High German and Old High German męrken, ‘to give heed to, perceive, understand, note’; a derivative of Marke (Gothic *markjan); hence Old French merchier, ‘to designate.’
meschugge, adjective, ‘crazy,’ from the equivalent Hebrew meschuggâ.
Messe, feminine, ‘mass, fair,’ from Middle High German mësse, misse, feminine, ‘mass, church festival, fair’ Old High German mëssa, missa, feminine. So too the word on which it is based, Middle Latin missa, signifies not only ‘incruentum christianorum sacrificium,’ but also ‘feast of a saint’ (“quod in eo Missa sollemnis peragitur”). The latter sense led to Middle Latin missa, Middle High German mësse, ‘fair,’ because this “was wont to be held on account of the great concourse of people” on saints' days (compare French foire, ‘fair,’ literally ‘holiday,’ under Feier). Middle Latin missa, “as is well known, originated in missa est, scil. concio, the words spoken by the deacon when dismissing the congregation which did not partake of the sacrament”; from this the corresponding Romance cognates, Italian messa and French messe, are derived. The vowel in Anglo-Saxon mœsse, feminine (Northumbrian messe), English mass, is abnormal; the latter also signifies feast in Christmas and Lammas (see Laib). Compare Feier, Mette, Nonne, Opfer, and Vesper.
messen, verb, ‘to measure, survey,’ from Middle High German mëȥȥen, Old High German mëȥȥan, ‘to measure, mete out, distribute, consider, test’; compare Old Saxon mëtan, Dutch meten, ‘to measure,’ Anglo-Saxon mëtan, ‘to measure, value, deem,’ Gothic mitan, ‘to measure’; also allied to Gothic mitôn, ‘to ponder, reflect on’; Old High German mëȥȥôn, ‘to moderate.’ The Teutonic stem mē̆t, ‘to measure, estimate, ponder’ (compare Maß), is based on pre-Teutonic mē̆d, and cannot, because of the non-permutation, be connected with Latin metiri; compare Latin modus, Greek μέδομαι μήδομαι, ‘to consider, estimate,’ μέδων, ‘adviser,’ μέδιμνος, ‘medimnus’ (about 12 galls.), Latin modius, Gothic mitaþs, ‘corn measure.’ See Metze (2).
Messer, neuter, from the equivalent Middle High German męȥȥer, ‘knife.’ The word has undergone strange transformations; it is an abbreviation of męȥȥeres, Old High German męȥȥiras, męȥȥirahs, neuter, the etymology of which had grown obscure; the variants maȥ-sahs, męȥȥi-sahs, show, however, that męȥȥirahs is a compound meaning ‘food-sword.’ With regard to Gothic mats, neuter, Old High German maȥ, neuter, Anglo-Saxon męte, masculine, English meat, compare Mus and Mettwurst. Old High German sahs, Anglo-Saxon seax, neuter, ‘sword, knife,’ whence the name Saxons, is usually connected with Latin saxum, because knives were originally made of stone. The Old High German compound męȥȥi-rahs shows the change of medial s (z) to r. Gothic *matisahs is also indicated by Old Saxon męzas for *mętsahs, Dutch and Low German mes, Anglo-Saxon męte-seax, ‘food-knife, dagger.’
Messing, neuter, from the equivalent Middle High German męssinc (genitive -ges), masculine, ‘brass, latten’; a derivative of Masse, Old High German massa (from Latin massa?), ‘sow-metal’; Anglo-Saxon mœstling (with a suffix), ‘brass’ (whence English maslin?), is also derived from the same source; see too Old Icelandic messing, feminine, ‘brass.’ Contrary to this prevalent opinion, we have to observe that the derivative is more widely diffused than the primitively word, and it is inconceivable that the word was derived independently in the various languages; hence these cognates cannot be associated with Latin massa unless a derived word can be adduced as the base of the Teutonic words.
messingisch, adjective, ‘hybrid, composed of High German and Low German elements in the same word’; the term was first recorded in the last century, but it originated probably in the 16th or 17th century, when High German and Low German were struggling for the mastery.
Mesner, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German męsnœre, męssenœre, masculine, ‘sexton, sacristan’ (the latter connected with Messe), from late Old High German męsinâri (not messinâri), masculine, based on Middle Latin *masinarius for mansionarius, ‘custos et conservatoraedis sacrae, aedituus, ostarius’; Middle Latin mansionarius was also an official in the court of the Frankish kings (Middle Latin mansio, ‘house,’ equivalent to French maison). Compare Küster and Sigrist.
Met, masculine, ‘mead,’ from Middle High German mët, mëte, Old High German mëtu, mitu, masculine, ‘mead’; compare Anglo-Saxon meodo, English mead, Old Icelandic mjǫðr; Gothic *midus, masculine, ‘mead,’ is by chance not recorded. A common Teutonic and also common Aryan word; Aryan *medhu, Sanscrit mádhu, neuter, ‘sweetness, honey, sweet drink, Greek μέθυ, ‘wine’ (to which μεθύω, ‘to be drunk, and μέθη, ‘drunkenness’), Old Slovenian medŭ, ‘honey, wine,’ Lithuanian midùs, ‘mead,’ medùs, ‘honey,’ Irish mid. To these is allied Old Indian mádhu, ‘sweet, lovely,’ hence the various meanings of medhu, ‘mead, honey, wine,’ literally ‘that which is sweet,’ perhaps (according to Greek μεθύω,) ‘intoxicating liquid.’ Compare süß.
​ Mette, feminine, ‘matins,’ from Middle High German mętten, męttene, męttî, męttîn, feminine, ‘early mass,’ late Old High German męttîua, mattîna, feminine; from Middle Latin mattîna for matutîna hora (hence also Old Irish maten). From Latin matutînum are derived French matin (matines), and Italian mattino. Compare Messe, None, and Vesper.
Mettwurst, feminine, ‘pork sausage,’ Modern High German only, from the equivalent Low German metwurst, literally ‘food sausage,’ allied to Low German met, ‘minced meat,’ Old Saxon męti, Gothic mats, ‘food.’ See Messer.
Metze (1.), masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German steinmętze, Old High German steinmęzzo, masculine, ‘stone cutter’; also once in Old High German steinmeizzo, which is clearly connected with Old High German meiȥȥan, ‘to hew,’ mentioned under Meißel. But whether Old High German steinmęzzo originated in steinmeizzo, or whether Metze, Gothic *matja (compare French maçon, ‘mason, bricklayer’) is connected with the root mat, ‘to hew’ (Anglo-Saxon and English mattock), remains obscure.
Metze (2.), feminine, ‘corn measure, peck,’ from Middle High German mëzze, Old High German mëzzo, masculine, ‘small dry measure.’ Teutonic ë results from the Bavarian and Alemannian pronunciation. This word, like Gothic mitaþs, ‘measure’ (about 18 bush.), is connected with the Teutonic root met, ‘to measure’; Anglo-Saxon mitta, ‘corn measure,’ is also equivalent to Old High German mëzzo. The masculine is still the gender in Upper German, the feminine seems to be of Middle German and Low German origin. To the pre-Teutonic root mod (med) belongs Latin modius, ‘peck,’ which (see Pfund and Münze) before the Old High German period passed into West Teutonic; compare Old Saxon muddi, Old High German mutti, Middle High German mütte, ‘bushel.’
Metze (3.) feminine, ‘prostitute,’ from Middle High German metze, feminine, which is “literally a pet name for Mathilda, then ‘a girl of the lower class,’ often with the accessory notion of a loose life.” For other abbreviated forms with the suffix tz or z used as pet names, compare Fritz and Kunz.
Metzger, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German mętzjœre, mętzjer, masculine, ‘butcher.’ Adopted in the Middle High German period from Middle Latin; at least no better explanation can be found than the derivation from Middle Latin macellarius, from which, through the medium of mazil-, Old High German *męzijâri, with a German accent and mutation, would be evolved. Allied to Middle Latin macellum, ‘shambles,’ macellarius, ‘qui carnem in macello vendit’; yet the change of ll into j is not clear, therefore a Middle Latin *macearius (Old High German *mezzigâri) has been assumed. From Middle Latin macellarius were derived Middle High German mętzler, Old High German męzzilâri, ‘pork-butcher.’
meuchel-, derived, as the first part of a compound, from Middle High German miuchel-, ‘secret.’ Earlier Modern High German Meuchler, from the equivalent Middle High German miuchelœre, miucheler, late Old High German mûhhilâri, masculine, ‘plotter, assassin.’ Allied to Middle High German miuchelingen, ‘insidiously, like an assassin’; Old High German mühhilswërt, ‘assassin's sword, sword for assassination'; Old High German mûhhari, mûhho, mûhheo, ‘brigand, footpad’; also mûhhen, mûhhôn, ‘to attack from an ambush'; Middle High German vermûchen, ‘to get out of the way secretly, conceal,’ and Middle High German mocken, ‘to lie hidden’; further English dialectic to mitch (Anglo-Saxon *mŷčan), ‘to he hidden,’ Middle English micher, ‘thief.’ The entire class points to a Teutonic root mûk, ‘to lurk in ambush with weapons’; a pre-Teutonic root mûg appears in Keltic; compare Old Irish formúicthe, formúichthai, ‘absconditus,’ formúichdetu, ‘occultatio.’ Since these words well accord in meaning with the High German cognates, Gothic *muks, Old Icelandic mjúkr, English meek (to which Dutch meuk, ‘mellow, ripe’ is allied), cannot be associated with them, since their meaning does not correspond to that of the class under discussion. See mucken and munkeln.
Meute (1.), feminine, first occurs in early Modern High German from the equivalent French meute, feminine, ‘pack of hounds.’
Meute (2.), Meuterei, feminine, first occurs in early Modern High German from the equivalent French meute, ‘mutiny, riot.’
mich, see mein.
Mieder, neuter, ‘bodice, corset’ (with Middle High German and Upper German i instead of ü, Middle High German üe); from Middle High German müeder, muoder, neuter, literally ‘body, bodily form, skin, article of dress enveloping the upper part of the body, stays, bodice, vest,’ Old High German muodar, ‘alvus, belly of a snake’; compare Old Low German mûder, Old Frisian môther, ‘breast bandage’ (worn by women); Gothic, Anglo-Saxon, and Old Icelandic *môþr are wanting. The various meanings are specially ascribed to the relation of Leib, ‘body,’ to Leibchen, ‘stays.’ The word has also been connected further with Greek μήτρα, ‘‘womb,’ as well as with Latin mâtrix; this leads to its kinship with the cognates of Mutter.
Miene, feminine, ‘mien, look, bearing,’ Modern High German only, from French mine.
Mies, see Mos.
Miete, feminine, ‘pay, hire, rent,’ from Middle High German miete, Old High German mieta, miata, earlier méta, feminine, ‘payment, wages'; the original form is ​preserved by Gothic mizdô, ‘reward,’ the z of which, however, by the lengthening of the ĭ to ê has been lost in Teutonic; Old High German mêta, Old Saxon méda, Anglo-Saxon méd (once with the normal change of s into r, meord), English meed. Gothic mizdô, from pre-Teutonic mizdhdâ, is primitively allied to Greek μσθός, ‘wages, hire,’ Old Slovenian mǐzda, feminine, ‘wages,’ Zend mîžda, neuter, ‘wages,’ Old Indian mîdhá (for miždhá), ‘contest, match, booty’ (original sense probably ‘prize,’ by inference from the Sanscrit adjective mîdhvás, ‘distributing lavishly’). Hence the primitive Aryan form of the cognates is mizdho-, mizdhâ-, originally meaning ‘wages, prize.’
Mieze, feminine, ‘pussy,’ Modern High German only; it is either the modern Bavarian pet name for Maria, ‘Mary,’ just as Hinz, the pet name for the tom-cat, is connected with Heinrich, ‘Henry,’ or it is a recent onomatopoetic form like the phonetically cognate Ital micio, and the corresponding Romance class. The Modern High German mianuen, mauen, are also onomatopoetic forme.
Milbe, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German milwe, Old High German milwa, miliwa, feminine, ‘mite, moth’; Gothic *milwjô, or rather *milwi, feminine, are wanting. To this Gothic malô, feminine, ‘moth,’ and Old Icelandic mǫlr, ‘moth,’ are allied. These terms are derived from the root mel, mal, ‘to grind’; Milbe, Gothic malô, ‘the grinding (i.e., producing dust or meal) insect’; to the same root Old Slovenian molĭ, ‘moth,’ also belongs.
Milch, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German milch, Old High German miluh, feminine, ‘milk’; the common Teutonic term for ‘milk’; compare Gothic miluks. feminine, Old Icelandic mjólkr, feminine, Anglo-Saxon meoluc, milc, feminine, English milk, Dutch melk, Old Saxon miluk. The direct connection of the Teutonic cognates. with the root melk in melken is indubitable. It is remarkable, however, that a common Aryan, or at least a West Aryan term for ‘milk’ is wanting, although the root melg, Teutonic melk, ‘to milk,’ occurs in all the West Aryan languages. Greek γάλα (stem γάλακτ-), Latin lac (stem lact-), cannot be connected with the root melg, and Old Slovenian mlěko (from *melko) with its Slavonic cognates must have been borrowed from the Old Teutonic word, since in a primitively allied word we should have expected a g instead of the k.
mild, adjective, ‘mild, meek, gentle,’ from Middle High German milte, ‘friendly, kind, liberal, gracious,’ Old High German mil(illegible text)i; compare Old Saxon mildi, Anglo-Saxon milde, English mild, Gothic mildeis (hardly *milds), adjective, ‘loving, mild’; a common Teutonic adjective of disputed origin. A word corresponding exactly in sound does not occur in the cognate languages. Latin mollis, if it represents *molvis, *moldvis (like suâvis for *suâdvis; compare süß); might with Teutonic *mildu-, ‘mild,’ belong to the root mol, ‘to grind,’ with which also Old Irish mláith (primary form mlâti-), ‘soft, gentle,’ or Old Irish meldach, ‘pleasant,’ is connected.
Milz, feminine, ‘milt, spleen,’ from the equivalent Middle High German milze, Old High German milzi, neuter; from the High German form are derived the Romance cognates, Italian milza, Spanish melsa, ‘spleen.’ Corresponding forms are found in Old Icelandic milte, neuter, Anglo-Saxon milte, neuter and feminine; English milt and Dutch milt signify both ‘spleen’ and ‘soft roe.’ The cognates are probably connected with the Teutonic root melt (see Malz), ‘to soften, melt,’ “with respect to the properties ascribed to the spleen of manufacturing, decomposing, and liquefying the various humours of the body.” The term Milz is found in Teutonic only; so too Hand, Finger, Daumen, Zehe, Leber, &c. The names of other parts of the body, such as Herz, Niere, Fuß, Arm, Rippe, have, however, a history that can be traced farther back.
minder, comparative of gering and wenig, ‘less, inferior, lower’; from Middle High German minre, minner, Old High German minniro, comparative of luzzil, ‘little, small.’ To this is allied the Old High German and Middle High German adverb min (like baȥ allied to bęȥȥiro). A common Teutonic comparative formed like Gothic minniza,. adverb, mins, Anglo-Saxon min; the corresponding superlative is Gothic minnists, Old High German minnist, Middle High German minnest, Modern High German mindest, with the d of the comparative which has been evolved in Modern High German between the n and r; the positive is wanting, as in the ease of ehr, besser, seit, &c. Since en in these cognates, as in Mann, has originated in nw for nu, the word is based on the Latin-Greek verbal stem minu-, whence also Latin minor, minimus; compare Latin minuere, Greek μυύω; Old Slovenian mĭnij, ‘minor,’ Greek μίνυ-νθα, ‘a little while.’ The oldest form of the root is Aryan mî (mī̆), with the present stems mĭnâ- and mĭnu-, ‘to lessen, shorten,’ of which the Old Indian would be *mẽymas (equivalent to Greek μείων); compare also Greek μειόω, ‘to diminish.’
Minne, feminine, reintroduced in the latter half of the 18th century on the revival of Old German studies, from the equivalent Middle High German minne, feminine, ‘love,’ which became obsolete in the transition from Middle High German to Modern High German; Old High German minna, feminine, Old Saxon minna, minnia, feminine ‘love,’ literally and originally ‘recollection, memory’; ​compare Old Icelandic minne, neuter, ‘remembrance, recollection, toast.’ English mind, from Anglo-Saxon mynd, is also connected with the same root man, men; compare Gothic muns, ‘meaning.’ These belong to the common Aryan and also Teutonic root men, man, ‘to think’; compare Greek μένος, ‘temper, disposition,’ μιμνήσκω, ‘I remember,’ Latin memini, reminiscor, mens, moneo, Sanscrit root man, ‘to opine, believe, think of, purpose’; compare mahnen and Mann.
Minze, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German minze, Old High German minza, feminine, ‘mint’; compare Anglo-Saxon minte, feminine, English mint; borrowed previous to the High German permutation of consonants from the equivalent Latin mentha, menta (Greek μίνθα), at the same period as the other terms relating to horticulture and the art of cookery; see Pfeffer. The variants, Old High German munza, Middle High German münze, Modern High German Münze, have a remarkable form, and cannot be explained by the Latin word; compare Pfeffermünz.
mis, miß, ‘mis-, dis-, amiss, wrong,’ in compounds; from Middle High German misse-, Old High German missa-, missi-, which express the perversity or failure of an action; compare Gothic missadêþs (Old High German missitât, Middle High German and Modern High German missetât), ‘sin,’ missataujands, ‘sinner,’ Gothic missa-, for *miþtó- (literally ‘lost’), is an old to- participle from the root miþ (see meiden); compare Old Irish mí, ‘amiss.’ Hence the derivative missen.
mischen, verb, from the equivalent Middle High German and Middle Low German mischen, Old High German misken, ‘to mix’; compare Anglo-Saxon miscian, English to mix. In the other Old Teutonic languages a corresponding verb is wanting. The agreement with Latin misceo (miscere), ‘to mix,’ is evident. The only question is whether the word was primitively allied or was borrowed; that is difficult to determine, since, judging by sound and sense, both are possible. The assumption that the word was borrowed is supported by the loan-words relating to the Italian culture of the vine, which are quoted under Most. On the other hand, the Romance languages have instead of miscere a derivative misculare (French méler, equivalent to Old High German misculôn, Suabian mište); yet compare Italian mescere. On the supposition that the word was primitively allied, which is supported by Meisch, we should have to compare, in addition to the Latin term, Greek μίσγω (σγ equivalent to Teutonic sk?), μίγνυμι, the Sanscrit root miç in miçrá-s, ‘mixed,’ Old Slovenian měsiti, ‘to mix,’ Lithuanian mìsti, ‘to mingle’ (maísz-tas, ‘riot’). Hence Latin misceo, and, if mischen is primitively allied to it, Old Teutonic miskja represent a pre-historic mik-skejo (with sk as a suffix of the present stem, like forschen for pre-historic *forhskôn; compare waschen and wünschen). Compare Meisch.
Mispel, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German mispel, with the variants mespel, nespel, feminine Old High German mespila, feminine, ‘medlar,’ with the variant nespila. From Middle Latin mespila, whence also, with the change of the initial m into n., the corresponding Romance cognates (Italian nespola, French nèfle). The ultimate source is Greek μέσπιλον, ‘medlar.’
missen, verb, ‘to be without, do without,’ from Middle High German and Old High German missen, ‘to miss’; compare Anglo-Saxon missan, English to miss, and the equivalent Old Icelandic missa; Gothic *missjan is wanting. It is clearly connected with West Teutonic mîþan, ‘to avoid,’ which is related to an old participle missa- (for *miþta- with -tó-), meaning ‘avoided, frustrated’; compare meiden and miß.
Mist, masculine, ‘excrement, dung,’ from Middle High German and Old High German mist, masculine, ‘mud, manure, dunghill’; it represents *mihst, like Old High German forskôn, ‘to demand,’ for *forhskôn; see mischen. Gothic maíhstus, masculine, ‘excrement,’ Anglo-Saxon meoz (for *meoxt?), ‘excrement,’ Middle English mix, obsolete in English; the derivative Anglo-Saxon, Middle English, and English mixen, ‘dunghill,’ has been preserved, and appears in Old High German as mistunnea, mistina, feminine, and also in Franconian as misten, ‘dunghill.’ Since stu in Gothic maihstus is a suffix, High German Mist is connected with Lithuanian měz-ti, ‘to dung,’ mėżlaì, ‘excrement,’ or with the Aryan root mī̆gh, ‘to make water,’ which has been retained in Low German as mîgen; compare Anglo-Saxon mîgan, Old Icelandic míga, ‘to make water.’ This latter verbal stem is found in the non-Teutonic languages; compare the Sanscrit root mih, Latin mingere, Greek ὀμιχεῖν, with the same sense; Latin mêjo and Lithuanian mężu, ‘mingo,’ also belong to the same Aryan root mī̆gh. Since ὀμίχλη, ὁμίχλη, Old Slovenian mĭgla, Lithuanian miglà, ‘mist,’ are also allied to Greek ὀμιχεῖν, ‘to make water,’ the following have also been connected with Mist, Anglo-Saxon and English mist, Low German and Dutch mist, ‘mist,’ Icelandic mistr, ‘misty air’; Sanscrit méghá, ‘cloud,’ míh, ‘rain, mist,’ belong also to the root mih, which in Old Indian means both ‘to make water’ and ‘raining, gushing forth.’
Mistel, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German mistel, Old High German mistil, masculine, ‘mistletoe’: compare Anglo-Saxon mistel, English mistle, Old Icelandic mistelteinn, ‘mistletoe.’ An Old Teutonic word not derived ​from the equivalent Latin viscus, and scarcely allied to English mist (see Mist). Origin obscure.
mit, preposition and adverb, from the equivalent Middle High German and Old High German mit, preposition, ‘with,’ and the Middle High German adverb mite, Old High German miti; corresponding to Gothic miþ, mid, adverb and preposition, ‘with,’ Anglo-Saxon mid, obsolete in English (except in midwife). Teutonic mid, earlier midi, represents, according to the permutation of consonants, pre-Teutonic miti or meti, and hence is allied to Greek μετὰ, Zend maṭ, ‘with,’ It might also be connected with the cognates discussed under mitz, meaning ‘reciprocal.’
Mittag, masculine, ‘midday, noon, south,’ from mitt and Tag. Compare Middle High German mettetac, Old High German mittitag.
mitte, adjective, obsolete as an independent word, but preserved in derivatives; Middle High German mitte, Old High German mitti, adjective, ‘medius’; compare Anglo-Saxon midd, preserved in English only in midriff, Anglo-Saxon mid-hrif (hrif, ‘body,’ Latin corpus), English midnight, mid-Lent, midland, midwinter, &c., and in the derivatives midst, middle, &c.; Gothic midjis, ‘medius.’ It is a common Teutonic and Aryan adjective, pre-historic médhyo-s; compare Sanscrit mádhyas, Greek μέσος for *μέϑjος, Latin medius, Old Slovenian mežda, feminine (from medja), ‘middle.’ — Mittag, ‘mid-day,’ Mittfasten, ‘mid-Lent,’ Mittwoch, ‘Wednesday’; Mitternacht, ‘midnight,’ is properly a dative singular, originating in Middle High German ze mitter naht, Old High German zi mitteru naht, its frequent locative use (in this case to denote time when) becoming predominant as it did in names of places (e.g. Baden, properly dative plural, originated in Middle High German ze Baden, ‘at the baths,’ Sachsen, dative plural, Middle High German ze Sahsen, ‘in Saxony,’ literally ‘among the Saxons’). In Middle High German, however, mitnaht was also used for Old High German mittinaht. —
Mitte, feminine, ‘middle,’ from Middle High German mitte, Old High German mittî, feminine, an abstract form of the adjective. Compare the following article.
mittel, adjective, ‘middle, interior,’ from Middle High German mittel, Old High German mittil, adjective, ‘medius, situated in the middle’; Anglo-Saxon middel, English middle, adjective, a derivative of Old Teutonic miðja-, ‘middle,’ discussed under mitte; the originally form of this derivative was Gothic *midala-, authenticated by Old High German mëtal, adjective, ‘middle.’ —
Mittel, neuter, ‘middle, means, resource,’ from Middle High German mittel, neuter, ‘middle, centre, something intermediate, means,’ an adjective used as a substantive; compare Anglo-Saxon middel, English middle. Preposit. derivatives mittels, mittelst. Compare mitte.
Moder, masculine, ‘mud, mould, decay,’ from late Middle High German (Middle German) moder, masculine, ‘body that has been decomposed, decay, bog, moor’; compare Dutch modder, ‘slime,’ English mother, ‘slimy substance’ (especially in vinegar), Dutch moer, ‘yeast, lees.’ The entire class has become current only in the modern languages; compare the corresponding Middle German mot, ‘moor, morass, marsh,’ Middle English mudde, English mud. The early history of the cognates is obscure; Greek μυδών, ‘fungous flesh,’ on account of its permutation does not belong to the cognates.
mögen, verb, ‘to like, choose; may,’ from Middle High German mugen, mügen, Old High German mugan, earlier magan, preterite present, ‘to be able, have power,’ Gothic magan; a common Teutonic preterite present with the Old High German and Middle High German meaning, ‘to be able, have power,’ as it appears in the Modern High German abstract form Macht, and in the compound vermögen; Anglo-Saxon mœg (plural magon, preterite mihte), whence English may (preterite might). The Teutonic stem, mag (mug), from pre-Teutonic magh, is most closely allied to Old Slovenian mogą, mošti, ‘to be able, have power.’
Mohn, masculine, from the equivalent late Middle High German mân, earlier mâhen, masculine, ‘poppy’; Old High German *mâhan is wanting, for which Old High German mâgo, Middle High German mâge, masculine, ‘poppy,’ with a change of h to g (see fragen and Zähre), is used (compare Gothic þahan with Old High German dagên, Latin tacere); to this Upper German mâgsame (Alsatian mâss), ‘poppy,’ is allied. It corresponds to Old Swedish valmughi, Swedish vallmo, ‘poppy.’ The word points to pre-Teutonic mêkon-, besides which the form mâkon- is presupposed by Greek μήκων (Doric μᾶκων), Old Slovenian makŭ, ‘poppy.’ These correspondences, however, do not necessarily imply that the cognates are of genuine Aryan origin (compare Hanf). For Old High German mâgo a form popig (English poppy) was used in Anglo-Saxon, based on Latin papaver.
Mohr, masculine, ‘Moor,’ from Middle High German and Old High German môr, masculine; derived from Middle Latin Maurus, whence also French More, Italian and Spanish Moro.
Möhre, feminine (not current in Suabian and Bavarian), from the equivalent Middle High German mörhe, also more, morhe, feminine, Old High German moraha, morha, ‘carrot’; a non-mutated form occurs in Modern High German Mohrrübe; Gothic *maúrhô may be also assumned from Anglo-Saxon moru (for *morhu), feminine, and more, feminine, English (dialectic) more, ‘turnip.’ For a derivative of these cognates see under Morchel. From Old Teutonic morhô-n-, ‘carrot,’ Slovenian mrkva and Russian morkovĭ (primary Slavonic *mrŭky) seem to be derived.
​ Molch, masculine, ‘salamander’; the suffix ch first appears in early Modern High German (compare Habicht); from Middle High German mol, neuter, molle, masculine, ‘lizard, salamander,’ Old High German mol, with the variants molm and molt. Dutch mol and Middle English molle signify ‘mole.’ It is not certain whether the word in both senses is originally the same. Old High German mol, ‘lizard,’ has also been connected with the root mat, ‘to grind, pulverise.’
Molke, feminine, ‘whey,’ from Middle High German molken, molchen (also with u-ü instead of o), neuter, ‘whey,’ also ‘milk and that which is prepared from milk’; Old High German *molchan is wanting. Anglo-Saxon molcen, neuter, testifies, however, to the antiquity of Middle High German molken, which is a derivative of melken, Teutonic root melk; compare melken and Milch.
Monat, masculine (with Modern High German ô from Middle High German â before a nasal, as in Mohn, Mond, Brombeere, ohne, &c.), from the equivalent Middle High German mânôt (d), Old High German mânôd, masculine, ‘month’; compare Gothic mênôþs, Anglo-Saxon mônað, English month. The common Teutonic term mênôþ-, ‘month’ (pre-Teutonic mênôt-), seems identical with Mond, Old Teutonic mênin-. The computation of time according to the periods of the moon is perhaps Old Aryan, since the terms for month in the Aryan languages agree approximately. See under Mond.
Mönch, masculine, ‘monk, friar,’ from the equivalent Middle High German münch, münech, Old High German munih (hh), masculine. From the primary form muniko-, monico-, the equivalent French moine is also derived. In the original Latin word monachus (μοναχός), ‘monk,’ the ch was probably pronounced as c; compare Italian monaco, Old Irish manach, Anglo-Saxon munuc, English monk; so that Old High German ch is the High German permutation of k. In that case Mönch was borrowed at an earlier period than Abt and Pabst (see Münster). Old Slovenian mŭnichŭ is a German loanword.
Mond, masculine, ‘moon,’ from Middle High German mâne, masculine, ‘moon, month’ (Middle High German rarely feminine), Old High German mâno, masculine, ‘moon’; even in Middle High German occurs a form with a final dental, mânt, mânde, which is due to confusion with mânet (yet compare Elentier and niemand), Gothic mêna, Anglo-Saxon môna, masculine, English moon, Dutch maan. In the form mêno, masculine, a common Teutonic term for ‘moon’ (a later feminine form appears in Middle High German mœnîn, Old High German mânîn); it is based, like most of the terms for ‘moon’ and ‘month’ in the cognate Aryan languages, on Aryan mên, mênôt, or mênes. Compare Sanscrit mâs, masculine (for mâis, mêns), ‘moon, month,’ mâsa, masculine, ‘month,’ Greek μήν (for *μήνς), ‘month,’ Latin mensis, ‘month,’ Old Slovenian měsęcĭ, masculine, ‘moon, month,’ Lithuanian měnů, ‘moon,’ měnesis, ‘month,’ Old Irish mí. The exact relation of Teutonic mênôþ-, mênan-, to Latin-Greek mêns- (*mênes-) is disputed. The derivation of the stems mên, mêns, from the Aryan root mē̆, ‘to measure’ (Sanscrit mâ, ‘to measure, mete out,’ mâtram, Greek μέτρον, ‘measure,’ see Mahl, messen), may accord with the facts of the case (the moon was regarded as the measurer of time), yet from the historical and linguistic standpoint it cannot be considered a certainty. Compare Monat and Montag.
Montag, masculine, ‘Monday’; with the môn of Mond without the later d; Middle High German mântac (Suabian and Bavarian mœntac, with mutation), Old High German mânatag (*mânintag?), masculine, ‘Monday’; compare Dutch maandag, Anglo-Saxon mônandœg, English Monday (*môn equivalent to ‘moon’), Old Icelandic mánadagr. The common Teutonic term for Latin dies Lunae (French lundi, Italian lunedi).
Moor, masculine and neuter, ‘moor,’ Modern High German only, from Low German môr; compare Dutch moer, Old Saxon môr, neuter, Anglo-Saxon môr, neuter, ‘moor, swamp,’ English moor; corresponding to Old High German and Middle High German muor, neuter, ‘swamp,’ seldom ‘sea’; scarcely akin to Old Icelandic mó-r (genitive mó-s), masculine, ‘moor, dry heath’ Old High German muor, as well as Anglo-Saxon môr (Gothic *môra- is wanting), is rather relate by gradation to Meer, Old High German męri, Anglo-Saxon męre, Gothic marei,. or, if r is derived by rhotacism from s, the cognates are connected with Old High German and Middle High German mos, ‘swamp’; this, however, after the remarks made under Moos, is hardly probable.
Moos, neuter, ‘moss,’ from Middle High German and Old High German mos, neuter, ‘moss, moor, swamp’ (whence French mousse, ‘moss’); corresponding to Dutch mos, ‘moss,’ English moss, Old Icelandic mose, masculine, ‘moss, swamp,’ to which Old Icelandic mýrr (English mire), ‘slime,’ is allied. To these are related by gradation Anglo-Saxon meós, Old High German mios, Middle High German mies, masculine and neuter, ‘moss,’ whence also Modern High German Mies. The senses ‘moss, swamp,’ may be associated by the connecting link ‘mossy ground,’ hence the assumption of two originally different words is not required, *mosa-, ‘moss’ (by gradation *miusa, ‘moss,’ Old High German mios, Anglo-Saxon meós, ‘moss’), and mosa-, ‘swamp’ (by gradation *môsa, ‘moor,’ Old High German muor, compare Meos). Gothic *musa, by gradation *miusa-, ‘moss,’ is connected with Old Slovenian mŭchŭ ‘moss,’ Lithuanian mūsaí, ‘mould’ (on liquids), and Latin muscus, ‘moss,’ which has a ​derivative c for sc; and also with Greek μυῖα, ‘horse-fly,’ for μύσια, and μύαξ (for μύσαξ), ‘sea-mussel.’ The meaning ‘swamp’ is still current in Suabian and Bavarian; compare Dachauer Moos.
Mops, masculine, Modern High German only, from the equivalent Low German mops, Dutch mops and mop, ‘pug-dog.’ Akin to a Teutonic root mup, ‘to distort the face, make grimaces’; compare late Middle High German muff, mupf, masculine, ‘wry mouth,’ Dutch mopper, ‘to wear a peevish look,’ English to mop, ‘to gibber,’ Middle English moppe, ‘fool.’ Modern High German Mops, in the sense of ‘stupid fellow, may be explained as indicated by the Middle English word without reference to the name of the Latin author Mopsus.
Morast, masculine, ‘morass,’ Modern High German only from Low German moras; compare Dutch moras, moeras, English morass, Middle English mareis. The cognates, as is indicated by the non-Teutonic accent, are borrowed from Romance; compare Italian marese, French marais, Middle Latin maragium, ‘morass, swamp.’ The o of the Teutonic words is due to their being connected with Moor. Unknown to Suabian and Bavarian.
Morchel, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German morchel, morhel, late Old High German morhila, feminine, ‘moril’ (Dutch morille,. ‘moril’); the apparent derivation from Old German morha-, ‘carrot’ (see Möhre), is explained under Wurzel. The Suabian and Bavarian variants maurache, môraåχ, môroχ, present a difticulty.
Mord, masculine, ‘murder,’ from Middle High German mort (-des), masculine and neuter, Old High German mord, neuter; compare Old Saxon morth, Dutch moord, Anglo-Saxon and Old Icelandic morð, ‘murder,’ with the common meaning ‘intentional, secret death-blow.’ Gothic *maurþ, neuter, is wanting; it is based on pre-Teutonic mṛto-m, neuter, and originally meant ‘death’ simply, as the root mor, ‘to die,’ widely diffused through all the Aryan languages, indicates. Compare the Sanscrit root mṛ, ‘to die,’ mṛtá-m, neuter, ‘death,’ amṛta-m, ‘immortality,’ mṛtas, ‘dead,’ márta-s, ‘mortal,’ amṛta-s, ‘immortal,’ mṛtyús, ‘death’; Latin mori, ‘to die,’ mortuus, ‘dead,’ mors (Sanscrit mṛti-s), ‘death’; Old Slovenian mrĕti, ‘to die,’ morŭ-sŭ-mrŭtĭ, ‘death,’ mrŭtvŭ (Latin mortuus), ‘dead’; Lithuanian mìrti, ‘to die,’ mirtìs, ‘death,’ In Greek as well as in Old Teutonic the strong root mṛ is wanting, but its derivatives βροτός, ‘mortal’ (for *μρο-τό-ς), ἀμβροτός, ‘immortal,’ have been preserved; Old Irish marb, ‘dead.’ In Teutonic the root has assumed the sense of ‘intentional, secret killing,’ the older meaning ‘to die, death,’ supplanted by sterben and Tod, having become obsolete; Middle High German mort, ‘dead,’ was borrowed from French mort. Compare further Gothic maúrþr, neuter (in Sanscrit *mṛtra-m), Anglo-Saxon morþor, neuter, equivalent to English murder; also Old High German murdiren, Gothic maurþrjan, ‘to murder’; hence French meurtre, Middle Latin mordrum, ‘murderous deed.’
Morgen (1.), masculine, ‘morning,’ from the equivalent Middle High German morgen, Old High German morgen, masculine; compare Old Saxon morgan, Dutch morgen, Anglo-Saxon morgen, mergen, masculine, English morning (with the suffix -ing as in evening), Old Icelandic morgunn and myrgenn, Gothic maurgins, masculine; the common Teutonic term for the first half of the day, commencing with the dawn. It does not obtain, however, in the non-Teutonic languages, being, like Tag and Abend (Gothic undaurns, ‘midday’), specifically Teutonic. The pre-Teutonic mṛkeno- or mṛgheno- is still obscure; some etymologists connect it with Gothic maúrgjan, ‘to shorten,’ but this gives no definite sense for Morgen. With greater probability may Old Slovenian mrŭknąti, ‘to grow dark,’ mrakŭ, ‘darkness,’ be allied to the Teutonic cognates, so that Morgen might be regarded as ‘dawn’; compare the development of meaning in Dämmerung. —
morgen, in the sense of ‘to-morrow,’ is from Middle High German morgen, Old High German morgane, properly a dative singular, ‘in the morning, especially of the following day, (on) the next day’; similarly French demain, lendemain, from Latin mane. This use of morgen is unknown to Gothic (compare gestern); Scandinavian has á morgun, English to-morrow; Middle English tô morwe, dative, from morge(n), Dutch morgen, ‘to-morrow.’ Abend is similarly used of the preceding day (see also Sonnabend). —
Morgen, ‘east,’ is similar to the meaning of Latin mane in the Romance languages. Compare the origin of Osten.
Morgen (2.). masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German morgen, Old High German morgan, masculine, ‘acre’ (or nearly so); usually identified with Morgen (1), ‘morning's work for a team, the space ploughed by a team in a morning’; similarly Middle Latin dies, ‘tantum terræ quantum quis per diem uno aratro arare potest.’ So too Middle Latin diurnalis, ‘a square measure.’
morsch, adjective, ‘decaying, rotten,’ a Middle German and Low German word with the variant mors; a recent derivative of the root murs. See Mörser.
Mörser, masculine, ‘mortar (bowl),’ from the equivalent Middle High German morsœre, Old High German morsâri, masculine;. allied to Suabian, Alemannian, and Hessian ​Mörschel, ‘mortar,’ and morsch. The combination rs instead of rsch (see under herrschen, Hirsch, birschen, &c.) occurs also in Hirse, compared with the dialectic Hirsche. The High German form, Old High German mors-âri, is based on a verbal root murs; compare Middle High German zermürsen (Middle German zermorschen), ‘to crash to pieces,’ Swiss morsen, mürsen, ‘to grind, pound small,’ Dutch morzelen, ‘to pulverise, mangle.’ On the other hand, the equivalent Latin mortarium (French mortier) is indicated by Dutch mortier, Anglo-Saxon mortêre, Middle English mortêr, English mortar.
Mörtel, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German mortel, morter, masculine, ‘mortar (cement),’ from Middle Latin mortarium. Compare French mortier, ‘mortar’ (bowl and cement), whence also English mortar.
Most, masculine, ‘must, new wine,’ from Middle High German and Old High German most, masculine, ‘fermenting new wine, wine must;’ borrowed, like other words relating to vine-growing (see Wein, Winzer, Lauer, Presse, Torkel, and Kelch); the Latin origin is mustum, ‘must,’ whence also Anglo-Saxon, Middle English, and English must, the equivalent Dutch most, and in the Romance group, Italian mosto, French mout. Compare further Old Slovenian mŭstŭ.
Mostert, Mostrich, masculine (the second word is a corruption of the first), ‘mustard,’ Middle High German mostert, musthart, masculine, ‘mustard mixed with must’; corresponding to the Romance terms, Italian mostarda, French moutarde, whence Middle English and English mustard, Dutch mosterd. A derivative of Latin mustum, ‘must,’ mustard being mixed with must. Compare Senf.
Motte, feminine, from the equivalent late Middle High German matte, feminine, ‘moth’ (tt originated in Gothic and Old Teutonic þþ, as in Fittich, Latte, and spotten). Gothic *muþþô is wanting; compare Anglo-Saxon moþþe, feminine, Middle English moþþe, English moth, Dutch mot (t for tt from þþ), ‘moth’; also the curious variants, Middle High German matte, feminine (Gothic *maþþa), Anglo-Saxon mohþe, feminine, Middle English moughþe, ‘moth’ (Old Icelandic motte, masculine. ‘moth,’ with the same permutation of þþ to tt as in Dutch). Perhaps the cognates discussed under Made are akin.
Möwe, feminine, Modern High German only, from the equivalent Low German mewe, Dutch meeuw, feminine, ‘mew, seagull.’ The word existed in Old High German as méh; Gothic *maihws is wanting; compare Old Icelandic má-r, masculine, ‘seagull.’ A variant *maiwi is indicated by Anglo-Saxon mœ̂w, English mew (for the interchange of hw and w see Niere), as well as by the Dutch form meeuw. A pre-Teutonic *maiko-, *maiki, has not yet been found with a meaning similar to that of the Teutonic cognates.
Mucke, feminine, ‘whim, freak,’ a Low German form for the rare Middle High German muoche, ‘vexatious thought’; yet the word may be regarded as the normal Upper German form for Mücke, so that its derivation should be similar to that of Grille.
Mücke, feminine, ‘gnat, midge,’ from Middle High German mücke, mucke, feminine, ‘gnat, fly’ (hence still Modern High German dialectic ‘fly’), Old High German mucca, feminine Gothic *mugjô is by chance not recorded; it is indicated by Anglo-Saxon myčǧe, feminine, English midge, Old Saxon muggia, Dutch mug. Old Icelandic mý, neuter, ‘gnat,’ suggests the idea that the West Teutonic guttural is a suffix, as in Brücke (see also Jugend). The common Teutonic form of the noun is muwî, to which also Greek μυῖα corresponds.
mucken, verb, ‘to grumble,’ first occurs in early Modern High German, probably akin to late Middle High German mûgen, ‘to roar,’ which may be allied to μυκάομαι, ‘to roar’ (see Mücke). Perhaps it is also connected with Muckser; it is based on Middle High German muckzen, muchzen, Old High German muccazzen, ‘to whisper, grumble’; apparently, however, it is better connected with the Teutonic root mū̆k, ‘to pretend to know secrets,’ discussed under meuchel-. To this also belongs the simply Modern High German Mucker, ‘sulky person, grumbler,’ properly ‘religions hypocrite,’ in which sense the word first appeared in Jena in the early part of the 18th century to denote the adherents of the pietist theologian Buddeus.
Mucker, see mucken.
mucksen, see mucken.
müde, adjective, from the equivalent Middle High German müede, Old High German muodi, adjective, ‘tired, weary’; compare Old Saxon môði, Dutch moede, Anglo-Saxon mêðe, ‘tired’ (Gothic *mô-þeis, ‘tired,’ is wanting); compare also Old Icelandic móðr, ‘tired.’ The dental is a participle derivative of the root *mô- (compare mühen), of which müde is a verbal adjective meaning ‘having wearied oneself.’
Muff (1.), masculine, ‘muff,’ Modern High German only; from Low German muff, Dutch mof, ‘muff,’ English muff; a modern Teutonic word connected with French moufle, ‘mitten,’ Middle Latin (even in the 9th century) muffula. The origin of the cognates has not yet been determined; they are generally connected with Middle High German mouwe, ‘sleeve.’
Muff (2.), ‘mould,’ Middle High German only, allied to Dutch muf, ‘musty, moist, mouldy’; late Middle High German müffeln, ‘to smell bad or ​rotten.’ With these are connected the widely-diffused Romance cognates, which are said to have originated in the German words: French moufette, ‘firedamp (in mines),’ Italian muffo, ‘mouldy.’
muhen, verb, ‘to low,’ from late Middle High German mühen, müwen, mügen, ‘to roar’; perhaps allied to Greek μυκάομαι but more probably a recent onomatopoetic form.
mühen, verb, ‘to trouble, vex,’ from Middle High German müen, müejen, Old High German muoen, weak verb, ‘to burden, torment, vex’; Dutch moeijen, ‘to molest, take pains.’ The verbal adjective müde (Gothic *môþeis) points, like the verb, to an Old Teutonic and Aryan root mô, of which there are derivatives in the cognate languages, Greek μῶ-λος, ‘toil, labour, especially in war,’ μῶ-λυς, ‘exhausted by toil, languid, weak,’ Latin mô-les, feminine, ‘exertion, toil, distress,’ &c., môlior, ‘to exert oneself.’ —
Mühe, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German müeje, Old High German muoî, feminine, ‘toil,’ is a verbal abstract of the verb mühen.
Mühle, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German mül (müle), Old High German mulî, mulîn, feminine, ‘mill’; compare Anglo-Saxon myln, English mill, Old Icelandic mylna (derived from English), feminine, ‘mill.’ Hardly a Teutonic derivative of the root mal, discussed under mahlen; it is rather borrowed from common Romance môlina, ‘mill’ (for classical Latin mola); compare Italian mulino, French moulin, ‘mill’ (Dutch molen, Old Irish mulen, and Slavonic mŭlinŭ. The formation of an Old Teutonic *mulînô with a suffix -înô has no parallels in Teutonic. The genuine Teutonic word for ‘mill’ is preserved in Gothic qaírnus, Anglo-Saxon cweorn, Old High German quirn.
Muhme, feminine (in Upper German almost obsolete), ‘aunt, female relative, nurse,’ from Middle High German muome, Old High German muoma, feminine, ‘mother's sister,’ also ‘sister-in-law, female relative.’ That the earlier meaning, ‘mother's sister’ (compare Base), is the originally one is shown by the connection of the word with Mutter. Old High German muoma points to Gothic *môna, as is indicated by Low German and Middle English mône, ‘aunt’ (for the change of n to m, see Pilgrim). The word is a pet form of or child's term for Anglo-Saxon môdrie, Low German mödder (equivalent to Welsh modryb, ‘aunt’), which have the same form as Greek μητρυΐα (compare Vetter with Vater); likewise Dutch moei from Middle Dutch moeie, ‘aunt.’ An old synonym occurs in Anglo-Saxon faþu, ‘aunt on the fathers side, father's sister,’ allied to Vater. Old Icelandic móna, ‘mother,’ and the equivalent Low German mœme, Lithuanian momà, Old Slovenian mama, seem to be pet terms for ‘mother’; so too Dutch moei, ‘aunt’ (Old High German muoia, Greek μαῖα).
Mühsal, neuter, from the equivalent Middle High German (rare) müesal, neuter, ‘trouble, affliction’; formed by means of the oft-recurring suffix -sal, from the Middle High German verb, *müejen, Modern High German mühen.
Mulde, feminine, ‘trough, tray, pail,’ from Middle High German mulde, feminine, ‘semicircular hollow vessel, especially used for cleaning corn, flour-bin, kneading-trough,’ with the equivalent variants Middle High German muolte, muolter, multer, Old High German muoltera. The uo before an l and a consonant points to the fact that the cognates were borrowed; they are usually referred to Latin mulctra, ‘milk-pail.’
Müller, masculine, ‘miller,’ from Middle High German mülner, mülnœre, neuter (ln is preserved in the surname Müllner, in other cases it is represented by ll), Old High German mûlinâri, masculine, ‘miller.’ A derivative of Mühle (Old High German mulîna), or borrowed directly from Middle Latin molinarius (Italian mulinaro, French meunier), ‘miller.’ See Mühle.
Mulm, masculine, ‘loose, dry mould, dust,’ first recorded in Modern High German, but probably of an earlier origin; allied to the root mal, ‘to grind,’ literally ‘to pulverise,’ with which Gothic mulda, ‘dust, earth,’ and English mould are connected; see under Maulwurf. Compare also Grand.
Mumme (1.), feminine, ‘mum (kind of beer),’ Modern High German only, whence Dutch nom, English mum. The word is usually derived from Christian Mumme of Brunswick, who first brewed this beer in the year 1492.
Mumme (2.), feminine, ‘mask, masked person, disguise,’ first occurs in early Modern High German; compare Dutch mom, ‘mask, mummery,’ English to mumm, to which is allied Old French momer, ‘to masquerade,’ Modern French momerie, ‘mummery’; they are probably connected with an old verbal stem, mum, ‘to buzz, growl.’ Compare Dutch mommelen, ‘to mumble, grumble,’ Middle English mummen, ‘to roar,’ English to mumble, Modern High German mummeln.
mumuneln, verb, ‘to mumble.’ preceding word.
Mund (1.), masculine, ‘mouth,’ from Middle High German munt, Old High German mund, masculine, ‘mouth, outlet,’ Old Saxon mûð, masculine, Dutch mond, ‘mouth,’ Anglo-Saxon mûð, masculine, English mouth, Old Icelandic munnr, muðr, Gothic munþs, masculine, ‘mouth.’ The common Teutonic word munþa-z, masculine, may be based on pre-Teutonic mńto-s and connected with Latin mentum, ‘chin’ (of men and beasts). In the non-Teutonic languages also evidence of the ​kinship of Mund and Maul may be found, since the latter is an old *mû-lo-, while the former may represent *mu-nþo (with a participle suffix, see Zahn). Compare Sanscrit mú-kha, ‘mouth.’
Mund (2.), feminine, ‘protection,’ from Middle High German and Old High German munt, feminine, ‘protection, hand’; compare Anglo-Saxon mund, ‘hand, protection,’ Old Icelandic mund, feminine, ‘hand’; the Dutch term still exists in mond-baar with the variant momber, ‘guardian,’ Old Saxon mundboro, Anglo-Saxon mundbora, Old High German muntboro, Middle High German muntbor, masculine, ‘protector, tutor’; compare also Vormund and Mündel. Mund is certainly not connected with Latin mûnire (with regard to û from Aryan ai, compare moenia), but is probably derived from a root cognate with that of Latin manus, ‘hand.’
Mündel, masculine and feminine, ‘ward, minor,’ Modern High German only; in Middle High German mundelinc, ‘ward’ and ‘guardian.’ A derivative of Mund (2).
mündig, adjective from the equivalent Middle High German mündec. adjective, ‘of age,’ from Mund (2).
munkeln, verb, ‘to whisper secretly,’ Modern High German only; from the Teutonic root munk, mū̆k. See meuchel-.
Münster, neuter and masculine, ‘minster, cathedral,’ from. Middle High German münster, Old High German munustiri, munistri, neuter, properly ‘monastery, convent’ (Old High German), then (Middle High German) ‘monastery or convent church, collegiate church, cathedral’; compare Anglo-Saxon mynster, English minster. Formed from Latin and Greek monastêrium, ‘monastery,’ whence also Modern French moutier, ‘monastery, convent’ (compare also Old Irish munter, manister, as well as Old Slovenian monastyrĭ, ‘monastery’). Middle Latin monasteria were originally cellae in quibus unicus degit monachus, then generally ‘monastery,’ finally ‘cathedral,’ quod plerisque in ecclesiis cathedralibus monachi, non ut hodie canonici, olim sacra munera obirent (this signification is found even towards the end of the 11th century). Mönch was borrowed at the same period as Münster; compare Abt and Probst.
munter, adjective, ‘cheerful, lively, brisk,’ from Middle High German munter, munder, Old High German muntar, adjective, ‘fresh, lively, zealous, wakeful’; probably allied to Gothic mundrel, feminine, ‘aim,’ and mundôn, verb, ‘to fix one's eyes upon,’ so that ‘striving’ is the originally meaning of the adjective. It is also primitively allied to Old Slovenian mądrŭ, ‘wise,’ Lithuanian mundrùs, mandrùs, ‘cheerful.’ Moreover, Old High German muntar may also be connected with Old High German męnden, Old Saxon męndian, ‘to rejoice’ (Teutonic root manþ).
Münze (1.), feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German münȥe, Old High German muniȥȥa, feminine, ‘coin.’ The word was adopted in West Teutonic previous to the High German permutation, probably even before the time of Tacitus, from Latin monêta, ‘coin, money’; compare Anglo-Saxon mynet, English mint, Dutch munt. Latin monêta, on its adoption, was probably pronounced, with a Teutonic accent, mónêta; ê passed into î and ŏ into ŭ, later ü; múnita is the initial stage of Old High German múnĭȥȥa. That Latin words were introduced with Latin money (Tacit. Germ. 5) is antecedently probable. Compare Pfund.
Münze (2.), feminine, equivalent to Minze.
mürbe, adjective, ‘tender,’ from Middle High German mürwe, mür, Old High German muruwi, murwi, adjective, ‘tender, mellow’; also, with the same sense, Old High German marawi, maro, Middle High German mar (inflected marwer), Anglo-Saxon mearu. The root mar appears further in Greek μαραίνω, ‘to cause to wither,’ Sanscrit mlâ, ‘to fade’; also in Old Irish meirb, ‘soft.’
murmeln, verb, ‘to murmur,’ from Middle High German murmeln, Old High German murmulôn, with the parallel form murmurôn, ‘to murmur, grumble’; either from Latin murmurare, or rather a native onomatopoetic form. See murren.
Murmeltier, neuter, ‘marmot,’ corrupted in late Middle High German from Middle High German mürmendîn, neuter, Old High German murmuntî, neuter, ‘marmot’ (Old High German variant muremunto, masculine). The ultimate source of the word is Latin murem montis (mus montis, mus montanus), whence also the corresponding Italian marmotta, French marmotte. The Old High German form murmuntî is extended by a diminutive suffix.
murren, verb, ‘to grumble, mutter,’ first occurs in early Modern High German. Allied to the equivalent Dutch morren, Anglo-Saxon murcnian.
Mus, neuter, ‘pap, porridge, connection of fruit,’ from Middle High German and Old High German muos, neuter, ‘cooked food, especially pap-like food; food, meal’; Old Saxon and Anglo-Saxon môs, neuter, ‘food.’ The assumed Gothic *môsa-, ‘food,’ may be connected with mati-, ‘food,’ while *môsa- may represent *môtta- with a dental suffix; in that case the root would be Teutonic mat, pre-Teutonic mā̆d, ‘to cook, prepare food’ (for Gothic mats, ‘food,’ see Messer and mästen). To this is allied Gemüse, ‘vegetables,’ from Middle High German gemüese (Old High German *gimuosi), neuter, which as a derivative presumes the more general sense of Old High German muos. See Musteil.
​ Muschel, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German muschel, Old High German muscula, feminine, ‘mussel, shellfish.’ Borrowed from the equivalent Latin musculus, masculine.
Muskel, masculine, ‘muscle’ (of the body), Modern High German only, borrowed from the equivalent Latin musculus.
müssen, anom. verb, ‘to be obliged; must,’ from Middle High German müeȥen, Old High German muoȥan, preterite present, ‘to like, be able; be allowed, be obliged’ (see Muße); compare Old Saxon motân, Dutch moeten, ‘to be obliged; ought,’ Anglo-Saxon *motan, ‘to be allowed, be able, like, be obliged,’ in English only the preterite must (Anglo-Saxon môste, ‘was obliged’) has been preserved with the meaning of the present; Gothic gamôtan, ‘to take place, have room.’ The origin of these cognates is doubtful; they can scarcely be connected with messen.
Musteil, masculine and neuter, allied to Mus (Gemüse), “half the stock of provisions left on the death of a husband, and what remains thirty days later when an inventory is made; one half belongs to the widow and the other to the heirs” (Lessing); the share of the widow is called Musteil. Even in Middle High German (in the Middle German of the Saxon Code) musteile for *muosteile occurs.
Muster, neuter, ‘sample, model, paragon,’ first occurs in early Modern High German, from the equivalent Italian mostra; compare French montre (English muster, Dutch monster), ‘sample.’ Allied to Latin monstrare.
Muße, feminine, ‘leisure, ease,’ from Middle High German muoȥe, Old High German muoȥa, feminine, ‘leisure, ease, inactivity,’ Old High German also ‘possibility, suitable occasion’; allied to the Old Teutonic preterite present môtan (see müssen). —
müßig, adjective, ‘at leisure,’ from Middle High German müeȥec, Old High German muoȥîg, ‘at leisure, unemployed.’
Mut, masculine. ‘courage, mood,’ from Middle High German and Old High German muot, masculine, ‘sense, mind, spirits, courage,’ Old Saxon môd, ‘spirits, inner self, heart, courage,’ Dutch moed, masculine, ‘courage,’ Anglo-Saxon môd, neuter, ‘mind, spirits, heart, courage, zeal,’ English mood, Gothic môds, masculine, ‘auger.’ ‘Strong emotion, violent excitement,’ is the primary idea of the common Teutonic stem môda-, the origin of which cannot be traced with certainty in the non-Teutonic languages. The usual derivation from the root mā̆, Greek μαίομαι, ‘to desire,’ is possible. Compare the Slavonic root mě in sŭměją (sŭměti), ‘to venture.’ — Modern High German gemut in wohlgemut, from Middle High German wol gemuot, ‘courageous,’ and the simple gemuot, ‘minded, disposed.’ — Modern High German Gemüt, ‘spirits, disposition,’ from Middle High German gemüete, Old High German gimuoti, neuter, properly a collective of Mut, ‘totality of thoughts and feelings,’ Middle High German also ‘mood, longing,’ Old High German ‘joy.’
Mutter, feminine, ‘mother,’ from Middle High German muoter, Old High German muotar, feminine; compare Old Saxon môdar, Dutch moeder, Anglo-Saxon môddôr, môdor; English mother (with th when followed by er, as in father, weather); Old Icelandic môðer. The common Teutonic word for ‘mother,’ wanting only in Gothic, in which aiþei (compare Eidam) was the current term, just as atta was used for ‘father’ instead of fadar. Teutonic môdar, ‘mother,’ from pre-Teutonic mâtêr, is, like many other terms denoting degrees of relationship, common also to the Aryan languages; compare Indian mâtṛ, Greek μήτηρ, μάτηρ, Latin mâter, Old Slovenian mati, Old Irish máthir (Lithuanian môtė, ‘married woman’). It is allied to Muhme and its cognates, as well as to Greek μαῖα, ‘good mother’ (as a kindly address). Whether these words are based on an Aryan root mâ, meaning ‘to mete out’ (Mutter, ‘apportioner, distributor’?), or in its Old Indian sense, ‘to form’ (of the embryo in the womb), is uncertain. —
Mutterkrebs, ‘female crayfish,’ properly ‘a crayfish at the period when it casts its shell,’ had originally nothing to do with Mutter; it contains rather Old High German muter, High German Mauser (Latin mûtare). Compare mausern.
Mütze, feminine, from the equivalent late Middle High German mütze, mutze, feminine, ‘cap, bonnet,’ which is a shortened form of the equivalent armuȥ, almuȥ. It is derived from Middle Latin almutia, armutia, almutium, properly ‘amictus quo Canonici caput humerosque tegebant,’ worn also at a later period by laymen; the development of meaning is similar to that of Modern High German Kappe. Middle Latin almutia, the origin of which is entirely obscure (al is thought to be the Arabic article), appears in Romance. Compare French aumusse or aumuce, ‘amess’ (fur cap worn by officials in Roman Catholic churches).
mutzen, verb, ‘to dress up, adorn’; in the sense of ‘to be out of humour,’ from mucktzen, like Blitz from Blikz, schmatzen from schmackezen; but Modern High German aufmutzen, ‘to throw in one's teeth, blame,’ from Middle High German ûfmützen, ‘to dress up, adorn,’ Middle High German mutzen, mützen, ‘to dress, adorn.’ Aufmutzen thus means ‘to puff.’