Old English. Probably an alteration of Old English mapulder, mapuldor, mapuldur, mapuldre maple tree on the analogy of Old English apulder, apuldor, apuldre apple tree, and its doublet Old English aepeltrē, apoltrē, aeppeltrēow apple tree Old English mapulder and Old Saxon mapulder are probably further cognate with Old High German mazaltra, mazzaltra, mazzoltra (Middle High German mazalter, mazolter, German Massholder): see discussion below. Further etymology uncertain: a connection with the base of mazer is likely, but difficult to explain phonologically.