An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Melde

by Friedrich Kluge

Melde (Bav. molten), f., ‘orache’ (a plant), from the equiv. MidHG. and MidLG. mëlde, and with a different gradation mulde, molte, f., OHG. mola, mulda (muolhta is incorrectly written for molta), f.; of obscure origin. The derivation from the root mal, ‘to grind,’ to which Mehl is allied, does not give a suitable sense. Gr. βλίτον (for *μλίτον), ‘orache,’ should rather be compared with the G. word.