An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/malen

by Friedrich Kluge

malen, verb, ‘to paint,’ from Middle High German mâlen, literally ‘to furnish with a mark or sign,’ then ‘to colour, paint, write,’ Old High German mâlôn, mâlên, ‘to paint, draw’; allied to Old High German mât; ‘point,’ signifying also ‘period’ according to mal (2), mentioned under Mal (1). Akin also to Gothic mêla, neuter plural, ‘writing, documents,’ mêljan, ‘to write, record.’