An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Milbe

by Friedrich Kluge

Milbe, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German milwe, Old High German milwa, miliwa, feminine, ‘mite, moth’; Gothic *milwjô, or rather *milwi, feminine, are wanting. To this Gothic malô, feminine, ‘moth,’ and Old Icelandic mǫlr, ‘moth,’ are allied. These terms are derived from the root mel, mal, ‘to grind’; Milbe, Gothic malô, ‘the grinding (i.e., producing dust or meal) insect’; to the same root Old Slovenian molĭ, ‘moth,’ also belongs.