meld

meld · verb, noun¹

The verb is probably derived: * from a blend of melt + weld; or * from melled (“blended; mingled”), the past participle of mell. The noun is derived from the verb. Compare also melting pot.

meld · verb, noun²

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*meldʰ-“to ask; to pray; to speak”
2. Proto-West Germanic · derived from*melþōn“to announce, declare; to inform”
3. Dutch · borrowed frommelden“to announce; to let (someone) know, report; (specifically) to declare in a card game”
4. English todaymeld

The verb is probably borrowed from Dutch melden (“to announce; to let (someone) know, report; (specifically) to declare in a card game”), ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *melþōn (“to announce, declare; to inform”), and Proto-Indo-European *meldʰ- (“to ask; to pray; to speak”). The noun is derived from the verb. Cognates * Dutch melden * Old English meldian (“to announce, declare; to inform, notify”) (Middle English melden (“to accuse, inform against; to announce, declare”))

First known use, by meaning

• from early 20th c. To combine (multiple things) together; to blend, to fuse.
• from late 20th c. The result of multiple things being combined together; a blend.
• from late 19th c. To announce or play (a combination of playing cards) and thus score points.
• from late 19th c. To announce or play a combination of playing cards and thus score points.
• from late 19th c. Especially in games of the rummy family: a combination of playing cards which is announced or played to score points.