Etymology Explorer › Middle French

Where does “moufle” come from?

moufle (Middle French) comes from Old French mofle, from Medieval Latin muffula, from Frankish molfell, from Middle High German mol, from Old High German mol, from Proto-Germanic mulô, from Proto-Indo-European molh₂-o-, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

Ancestry of “moufle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchmoflethick glove
2Medieval Latinmuffulaa muff; muff
3Frankishmolfellsoft garment made of hide
4Middle High Germanmol—
5Old High Germanmol—
6Proto-Germanicmulô—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmolh₂-o-—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
9Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
10Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

Words derived from “moufle”

  • muff
  • earmuff
  • muffish
  • earmuffed
  • footmuff
  • moffie
  • muff pistol
  • mufla
  • muflerie
  • moufle
  • muflier
  • mufle
  • Muffe
  • mof
  • moffel
  • moffenzeef
  • muffe
  • moffie
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →