An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/schmähen

by Friedrich Kluge

schmähen, verb, ‘to abuse, revile, rail,’ from Middle High German smœhen, ‘to treat contemptuously,’ Old High German smâhen, verb, ‘to make small, lessen,’ see Schmach. Allied to Modern High German schmählich, adjective, ‘abusive,’ Middle High German smœhelich, Old High German smâlîch, adjective, which are identical with the Old High German adjective smâhi, Middle High German smœhe, adduced under Schmach.