Where does “malt” come from?

malt (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch malt, from Proto-Germanic maltą, from Proto-Indo-European meld-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

Ancestry of “malt”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchmalt—
2Proto-Germanicmaltąmalt
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmeld-to beat, crush, grind
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European mel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European meld- →