An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Meisch

by Friedrich Kluge

Meisch, m., Meische, f., ‘mash,’ from MidHG. meisch, m., ‘grape mash,’ also ‘mead, drink mixed with honey’; allied to E. mash, which by chance not recorded in AS. and MidE. It is very likely related by gradation to mischen, if the latter, as is probable, is a genuine Teut. word; comp. MidE. mâschien and the equiv. E. to mash. With this agrees the further assumption that MidHG. meisch, ‘mead,’ is primit. allied to OSlov. mězga, ‘tree-juice’ (for OSlov. zg, equiv. to Teut. sk, see mischen and Masche).