mæl

mæl

1. imperative of mæla

• mēl — Anglian, Kentish

From Proto-West Germanic *māl, from Proto-Germanic *mēlą, from Proto-Indo-European *meh₁- (“to measure”).

Cognate with Old Frisian mēl (West Frisian miel), Old Saxon -māl, Dutch maal, Old High German māl (German Mal (“time”), Mahl (“meal”)), Old Norse mál (Danish and Swedish mål), Gothic 𐌼𐌴𐌻 (mēl, “time, hour”). The Indo-European root is also the source of Ancient Greek μέτρον (métron), Latin mensus, Russian ме́ра (méra), Lithuanian mẽtas.

• IPA^(key): /mæːl/

mǣl n

1. a measure

   mǣltange ― a pair of compasses

   • Do wines þrie mel on ― pour on three measures of wine. (Leechbook)
2. mark, sign (especially a cross)
   • The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

     An. DCCLXXIII Hēr ōþēowde rēad Crīstes mǣl on heofonum æfter sunnan setlgange. ⁊ þȳ ġēare ġefuhtan Myrċe ⁊ Cantware æt Ottanforda.

     Year 773 In this year a red crucifix appeared in the heavens after the setting of the sun. And in that year, Mercia and Kent fought at Otford.

3. time, occasion, season

   mǣlċearu ― cares or troubles of the time

   mǣldæġ ― appointed time, day

   mǣlġesceaft ― fate

   • Mæl is me to feran. ― It is time for me to go. (Beowulf, l. 316)
4. the time for eating, meal-time, a meal
   • He gereordade æt anum mæle fif þusend manna ― He fed at one meal five thousand men. (Wulfstan)

Strong a-stem:

• undernmæl
• dægmæl (“clock, sundial”)

• mǣþ

• Middle English: mel, mele, melle, mal, male, meyle (chiefly Northern), mæl, mæle, meal (Early Middle English)
  • English: meal
  • Scots: meal
  • Yola: meale, mele
  • → Irish: béile