An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/schmal

by Friedrich Kluge

schmal, adj., ‘narrow, slender, scanty,’ from MidHG. and OHG. smal, adj., ‘small, trifling, slender, scanty, narrow’; corresponding to Goth. smals, ‘small, trifling.’ AS. smeœl, ‘small, trifling,’ E. small, Du. smal, OSax. smal, ‘emall, trifling.’ The ModHG. sense is to be regarded as a specialisation of the older and wider meaning. The word is usually compared with OSlov. malŭ, ‘small,’ as well as Gr. μῆλα, ‘small cattle’ (for σμ-?), OIr. míl, ‘animal,’ espec. since OIc. smale, ‘small cattle,’ has the same meaning. The older and wider meaning of the adj. is still faintly seen in schmälen, ‘to put down with reproof’; comp. MidHG. smeln, ‘to make narrower, lessen.’