An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Mähre

by Friedrich Kluge

Mähre, f., from the equiv. MidHG. męrhe, OHG. męriha, marha, f., ‘mare’; fem. of the OHG. marah, marh, ‘horse,’ discussed under Marschall; comp. AS. mýre, E. mare, Du. merrie, OIc. merr, pointing to a Goth. *marhi (gen. *marhjôs). In G. the fem. form has been preserved longer than the masc., on which it is based (comp. Frau, Magd, and Schwieger).