'mallet' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'maillet', where 'mail' (from Latin 'malleus') meant 'hammer'.

'mallet' changed from Old French 'maillet' and entered Middle English (as forms like 'malet'/'mallet'), eventually becoming the modern English word 'mallet'.

Initially, it meant 'a hammer' (in the literal sense), and over time it retained that core meaning while also extending to refer to the soft-headed sticks used to play percussion instruments.