Where does “malt” come from?
Malt comes from Middle English malt, Old English mealt, and Proto-Germanic maltą, which derive from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning to grind or crush.
malt (English): Malted grain sprouted grain (usually barley), used in brewing and otherwise
Definitions
- Malted grain sprouted grain (usually barley), used in brewing and otherwise
Ancestry of “malt”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | malt | malt malted grain |
| 2 | Old English | mealt | malt |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | *malt | malt |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | maltą | malt |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | meld- | to beat, crush, grind |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |