Etymology Explorer › Middle Dutch

Where does “mēle” come from?

mēle (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch melo, from Proto-West Germanic melu, from Proto-Germanic melwą, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

Ancestry of “mēle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchmelo—
2Proto-West Germanicmeluground corn, meal, flour
3Proto-Germanicmelwąground corn, meal, flour
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

Words derived from “mēle”

  • meel
  • beendermeel
  • zetmeel
  • meelworm
  • griesmeel
  • bakmeel
  • stuifmeel
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →