An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/mutzen

by Friedrich Kluge

mutzen, vb., ‘to dress up, adorn’; in the sense of ‘to be out of humour,’ from mucktzen, like Blitz from Blikz, schmatzen from schmackezen; but ModHG. aufmutzen, ‘to throw in one's teeth, blame,’ from MidHG. ûfmützen, ‘to dress up, adorn,’ MidHG. mutzen, mützen, ‘to dress, adorn.’ Aufmutzen thus means ‘to puff.’