Etymology

From Middle English meeltime, from Old English mǣltīma ‎(“mealtime”), equivalent to meal +‎ time. Compare Old English mǣltīd ‎(“mealtime”), Dutch maaltijd ‎(“meal”), German Mahlzeit ‎(“meal, mealtime”), Danish måltid ‎(“meal, mealtime”), Icelandic máltíð ‎(“meal”), Icelandic matmálstími ‎(“mealtime”).