MALT

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English mealt; akin to Old High German malz ~, Old English meltan to melt Date: before 12th century grain (as barley) softened by steeping in water, allowed to germinate, and used especially in brewing and distilling, ~ liquor , ~ed milk , ~y adjective II. verb Date: 15th century transitive verb to convert into ~, to make or treat with ~ or ~ extract, intransitive verb to become ~, to make grain into ~