Mulch
/mʌltʃ/noun
A protective layer of material spread over soil to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Did you know?Mulch is tied to an old word for “soft” or “moldy” material, and that same ancient root also helped shape words for decay, softness, and even the idea of being pliable.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mel-
“to be soft; to crumble; to grind”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*muljaną
“to crush, break into small pieces”
Old English
English
melsc / mulsh
“soft, crumbly material; refuse or waste matter”
Middle English
English
mulche
“refuse, rotten leaves, or soft crumbled material used on the ground”
Modern English
English
mulch
“material spread on soil to protect or enrich it”