An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Gemahl

by Friedrich Kluge

Gemahl, m. and n., ‘consort, spouse,’ from MidHG. gemahele, m., ‘betrothed, husband,’ and gemahele, f. (very rarely n., which is first found in Luther specially), ‘betrothed, wife’ (the fem. form Gemahlin is wanting in MidHG.); OHG. gimahalo, m., ‘betrothed, husband,’ gimahala (gimâla), ‘betrothed, wife.’ Simply a G. form from a common Teut. subst. maþla- (whence mahla-), ‘public assembly, negotiation’; comp. Goth. maþl, ‘assembly, market’ (akin to maþljan, ‘to make a speech’), OIc., mál, ‘speech’ (mœ̂la, ‘to make a speech), AS. meðel, ‘assembly’ (maðolian, mœ̂lan, ‘to make a speech’), OHG. mahal, ‘assembly, contract, marriage contract.’ Hence the subst. upon which the word is based has assumed in G. only, the special reference to the act of betrothal in the public assembly before the community.