An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/malen

by Friedrich Kluge

malen, vb., ‘to paint,’ from MidHG. mâlen, lit. ‘to furnish with a mark or sign,’ then ‘to colour, paint, write,’ OHG. mâlôn, mâlên, ‘to paint, draw’; allied to OHG. mât; ‘point,’ signifying also ‘period’ according to mal (2), mentioned under Mal (1). Akin also to Goth. mêla, neu. plur., ‘writing, documents,’ mêljan, ‘to write, record.’