An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/-mal
-mal (2.), suffix of the multiplicatives and temporal advs. (also a noun); it is based on MidHG. and OHG. mâl, ‘period’ (Goth. mél, see the preceding word). Even in OHG. the expressions z' einemo mâle, ‘once,’ ze drin mâlen, ‘thrice,’ manigen mâlen, ‘many a time,’ were formed; hence lit. ‘at one period, at two, at many periods’; so too z' andermo mâle, ‘at another time’; hence MidHG. eines mâles, ‘once,’ lit. ‘at one period.’ For the OHG. and MidHG. dat. plurs. mâlum, mâlen (ze drin mâlen, ‘thrice’), the apocopated form mal first appears in early ModHG.