Etymology: < classical Latin Mēlinum aluminous earth found in Melos, use as noun of neuter singular of Mēlinus of Melos < (or formed similarly to) Greek Μηλίνος (see note) < ancient Greek Μῆλος Melos (see Melian n. and adj.) + -ινος -ine suffix².Greek Μηλίνος is attested in an undated gloss in phrase γῆ μηλίνη , equivalent to γῆ Μηλία Melian earth (see Melian n. and adj.). The etymology from classical Latin mēlinus of quinces (see melinite n.¹), and hence the gloss ‘quince-yellow’, proposed by N.E.D. (1906) s.v. is not supported by the context of the uses below.

Etymology: < post-classical Latin melinus (4th cent.; compare classical Latin mēlīna purse made of badger skin) < classical Latin mēlēs badger (of unknown origin; perhaps compare fēlēs cat: see feline adj.) + -īnus -ine suffix¹. In spec. application after scientific Latin Melinae, subfamily name (H. Burmeister 1850), after earlier Melina (C. L. Bonaparte 1838, in Nuovi ann. delle sci. nat. 1 111) < Meles, adopted as a genus name by A. D. Brisson ( Regnum Animale (new ed., 1762) 183; nomen conservandum: see Bull. Zool. Nomencl. 55 64 (1998)), after its use as a specific name by Linnaeus (in Ursus meles : Systema Naturæ (ed. 10, 1758) I. 48) citing earlier post-classical use by K. Gesner ( De Quadrupedibus (1551) 686).