Malt
/mɔːlt/noun
Grain, usually barley, that has been soaked, allowed to sprout, and then dried for brewing or distilling.
Did you know?The word goes back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning “to melt,” because the grain was seen as being softened or dissolved by soaking and germination.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mel-
“to melt, soften, or grind”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*maltą
“malted grain”
Old English
OE
mealt
“malt, grain prepared for brewing”
Old High German
OHG
malz
“malt”
Middle English
ME
malt
“malt, especially barley prepared for brewing”
Modern English
English
malt
“grain prepared by malting, especially for brewing or distilling”