An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Maulwurf

by Friedrich Kluge

Maulwurf, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German môltwërf, moltwërfe, masculine, ‘mole,’ literally ‘the animal that throws up the soil’ (Middle High German molte, feminine). The Modern High German form is a corruption of the Middle High German word, which is recorded even in the Middle High German and Old High German periods in various forms (Middle High German mûwërf, mûlwërf, mûlwëlf, mûrwërf). Other Modern High German corrupt forms are the dialectic Moltwurm, Maulwurm, and Maulwolf. Old High German moltwerf, multwurf, masculine, ‘mole,’ are connected with Middle High German molte, feminine, molt, masculine, ‘dust, mould, soil,’ Old High German molta, feminine, molt, masculine; compare Gothic mulda, feminine, ‘dust, mould,’ Anglo-Saxon molde, English mould; properly a feminine substantive from the participle formed with da- from the root mal, ‘to crush, pulverise,’ hence mul-da; compare falt, alt, laut, and zart. In Middle English also moldwerp, ‘mole’ occurs; of this Middle English mole, Dutch, Westphalian, and Frisian mol are shortened forms?. These, however, are probably independent forms from the root mal. Another name for mole appears in Old High German scëro, Middle High German schër, Suabian and Alemannian Schärmaus.