An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Mut
Mut, m.. ‘courage, mood,’ from MidHG. and OHG. muot, m., ‘sense, mind, spirits, courage,’ OSax. môd, ‘spirits, inner self, heart, courage,’ Du. moed, m., ‘courage,’ AS. môd, n., ‘mind, spirits, heart, courage, zeal,’ E. mood, Goth. môds, m., ‘auger.’ ‘Strong emotion, violent excitement,’ is the primary idea of the common Teut. stem môda-, the origin of which cannot be traced with certainty in the non-Teut. languages. The usual derivation from the root mā̆, Gr. μαίομαι, ‘to desire,’ is possible. Comp. the Slav. root mě in sŭměją (sŭměti), ‘to venture.’ — ModHG. gemut in wohlgemut, from MidHG. wol gemuot, ‘courageous,’ and the simple gemuot, ‘minded, disposed.’ — ModHG. Gemüt, ‘spirits, disposition,’ from MidHG. gemüete, OHG. gimuoti, n., prop. a collective of Mut, ‘totality of thoughts and feelings,’ MidHG. also ‘mood, longing,’ OHG. ‘joy.’