Where does “malta” come from?

malta (Spanish) comes from German Malzbier, from German malz, from Middle High German malz, from Old High German malz, 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.

malta (Spanish): malt; malta

Definitions

  1. malt; malta

Ancestry of “malta”, step by step

malta traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Malzbier

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanMalzbiermalt beer
2Germanmalzmalt
3Middle High Germanmalz—
4Old High Germanmalz—
5Proto-Germanicmaltąmalt
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmeld-to beat, crush, grind
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

via Latin malt

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinmalt—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European mel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European meld- →