An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Mops

by Friedrich Kluge

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.