An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/schmal
schmal, adjective, ‘narrow, slender, scanty,’ from Middle High German and Old High German smal, adjective, ‘small, trifling, slender, scanty, narrow’; corresponding to Gothic smals, ‘small, trifling.’ Anglo-Saxon smeœl, ‘small, trifling,’ English small, Dutch smal, Old Saxon smal, ‘emall, trifling.’ The Modern High German sense is to be regarded as a specialisation of the older and wider meaning. The word is usually compared with Old Slovenian malŭ, ‘small,’ as well as Greek μῆλα, ‘small cattle’ (for σμ-?), Old Irish míl, ‘animal,’ especially since Old Icelandic smale, ‘small cattle,’ has the same meaning. The older and wider meaning of the adjective is still faintly seen in schmälen, ‘to put down with reproof’; compare Middle High German smeln, ‘to make narrower, lessen.’