Where does “mullein” come from?

mullein (English) comes from Middle English moleyne, from Anglo-Norman moleine, from Old French mol, from Latin mollis, from Latin molduis, from Proto-Italic moldus, from Proto-Indo-European *ml̥dus, from Proto-Indo-European (s)meld- — to soften, to melt.

mullein (English): Any of several European and Asian plants, of the...

Definitions

Any of several European and Asian plants, of the...

Ancestry of “mullein”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Middle English	moleyne	mullein a herb of the genus
2	Anglo-Norman	moleine	—
3	Old French	mol	soft
4	Latin	mollis	soft, delicate to the touch; pliant, flexible,...
5	Latin	molduis	—
6	Proto-Italic	moldus	—
7	Proto-Indo-European	*ml̥dus	soft, weak
8	Proto-Indo-European	(s)meld-	to soften, to melt

Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)meld- →