also mouldwarp, early 14c., moldewarp, from Proto-Germanic *moldo-worpo(n)-, literally "earth-thrower," from to Old English molde "earth, soil" (see mole, n.2 + weorpan "to throw" (see warp, v.). Common Germanic, compare Old Saxon moldwerp, Dutch mulworp, Norwegian moldvarp, Danish muldvarp, Old High German multwurf, German Maulwurf (influenced by Maul "mouth").