An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Mahl

by Friedrich Kluge

Mahl (1.), n., obsolete except in compounds; Mahlschatz, m., ‘dowry,’ from MidHG. mahelschaz, m., ‘dowry,’ and espec. ‘engagement ring’; Mahlstatt, ‘place of public assembly or of execution,’ MidHG. mahelstat, f., ‘court of justice, place of execution,’ OHG. mahalstat, f., ‘court of justice.’ See Gemahl.

Mahl (2.), n., ‘meal, repast,’ from MidHG. mâl, n., ‘banquet, meal-time’; OHG. *mâl, n., not recorded in this sense; allied to MidE. mœ̂l, E. meal (wanting in AS.). Probably identical in orig. with the cognates discussed under mal (2), so that ‘mealtime,’ as ‘time’ par excellence, may have led to the meanings ‘banquet, repast.’ OIc. mál, n., also signifies, among other things, ‘meal-time.’