An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Meißel

by Friedrich Kluge

Meißel, m., ‘chisel,’ from MidHG. meiȥel, OHG. meiȥil, m., ‘chisel, tool for dressing and chipping’; allied to OHG. meiȥan, MidHG. meiȥen, ‘to hew, cut,’ Goth. maitan, ‘to hew, hew off’; thus too OIc. meitell, m., ‘chisel,’ allied to meita, ‘to cut.’ All these belong to a Teut. root mat, ‘to hew,’ which has been connected with the Teut. root mat, ‘to hew,’ in Metze (Steinmetze). Comp. also E. mattock.