late 14c., from O.Fr. mitaine "mitten, half-glove," from O.Fr. mite "mitten," and from M.L. mitta, perhaps from M.H.G. mittemo, O.H.G. mittamo "middle, midmost" (reflecting notion of "half-glove"), or from V.L. *medietana "divided in the middle," from L. medius (see
medial).