An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Mast

by Friedrich Kluge

Mast (1.), m. (probably quite unknown to Suab. and Bav.), ‘mast,’ from MidHG. and OHG. mast, m., ‘pole, flagstaff, spear-shaft,’ espec. ‘ship's mast, tree fit for a mast’; comp. LG. and Du. mast, AS. mœst, m. E. mast, OIc. mastr, ‘mast.’ Goth. *masta-, m., ‘mast, pole,’ is wanting. According to the permutation of consonants, the latter is based on pre-Teut. mazdo- (comp. Ast, Gerste, and Nest); did Lat. mâlus for *mâdus originate in this? (also Ir. matan, ‘club,’ maite, ‘stick’?). Similarly Fisch (piscis) and Meer (mare) are primit. allied.

Mast (2), ‘mast (for fattening),’ from MidHG. and MidLG. mast, m., f., and n., ‘food, acorns, fattening,’ OHG. mast; comp. AS. mœst, f., E. mast. Goth. *masta is derived, according to the permutation of consonants, from a primit. form mazdo-, to which Sans. mêdas, n., ‘fat,’ mêdáy, ‘to fatten,’ also points. The ModHG. verbal noun mästen comes from MidHG. and OHG. męsten; Du. mesten, AS. mœstan, ‘to fatten’; to this is allied the ModHG. adj. partic. mast, OHG. mast, AS. gemœst, ‘fat, fattened.’ In MidHG. gemast, gemęstet.