An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Mahl

by Friedrich Kluge

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.’