melchadj.

Etymology: Origin uncertain; probably ultimately < the Indo-European base of mell n.² (compare the first element of mildew n.) + -ish suffix¹, a derivation which accords well with the sense of the word in Old English, but in later use apparently influenced by and partly remodelled after mulch adj. or one of its Germanic cognates (compare also masker v.). Compare also German regional (Switzerland) melsch (of fruit) crushed, squashed (a variant of mulsch : see mulch adj.).Compare Old High German milsca (in glosses) mixed drink of honey and wine, Old Icelandic milska mixed drink of mead and ale, Norwegian (Nynorsk) mylske kind of sweet cheese, mixture of cheese and meal, Old Swedish mylska , mölska strong and sweet ale (Swedish regional mölska ), Danish regional melske mixed drink of mead and ale, all perhaps ultimately borrowings < Old English; compare also Old English milscian to sweeten a drink with honey (also twice glossing post-classical Latin mitescere to become soft and sweet), Old High German milsken (in glosses) to sweeten wine, especially with honey, Old Icelandic milska to mix a drink. In Old English the compound sūrmilisc sourish-sweet, is also attested, compare:eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) ii. i. 176 Forþon þæm mannum deah þæt him mon on fruman þa mettas gife þe celunge & strangunge mægen hæbben swa swa beoþ æppla nales to swete ealles ac surmelsce. In forms in -i- in Compounds perhaps remodelled after milce n.: see milce-hearted adj. at milce n. Compounds 1.