An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Mulde

by Friedrich Kluge

Mulde, f., ‘trough, tray, pail,’ from MidHG. mulde, f., ‘semicircular hollow vessel, espec. used for cleaning corn, flour-bin, kneading-trough,’ with the equiv. variants MidHG. muolte, muolter, multer, OHG. muoltera. The uo before an l and a consonant points to the fact that the cognates were borrowed; they are usually referred to Lat. mulctra, ‘milk-pail.’