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maul·stick also mahl·stick

(môlstĭk′)

A long wooden stick used by painters as a support to keep the hand that holds the brush from touching the painting surface.

[Partial translation of obsolete Dutch maalstok : malen, to paint (from Middle Dutch, from mal, a spot, mark) + stok, stick.]

(click for a larger image)

maulstick

1556 Self-Portrait at the Easel by Sofonisba Anguissola

(1532?-1625)

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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