10:41 PM >> Meld und metallurgy

Well, it seems I was off. Meld seems to stem from card playing primarily, not metallurgy.

v. meld·ed, meld·ing, melds

v. tr. To declare or display (a card or combination of cards in a hand) for inclusion in one's score in various card games, such as pinochle.

v. intr. To present a meld.

n. A combination of cards to be declared for a score.

[Probably German melden, to announce, from Middle High German, from Old High German meldn.]

However, I did track this dictionary entry down, which 'weld' is cited as a derivative suggesting a metal-ish influenced:

v. meld·ed, meld·ing, melds

v. tr. To cause to merge: "a professional position that seemed to meld all his training" (Art Jahnke).

v. intr. To become merged.

n. A blend or merger: "a meld of diverse ethnic stocks" (Kenneth L. Woodward).

[Perhaps blend of melt, and weld1.]