World, according to a Persian book (10th century)

 

Often is the name Bismuth explained as a derivation from the German, from the saying that one the element "in der Wiese mute" (applied for mineral rights in the meadow). According to Thomas Witzke, the derivation of the element name from "in der Wiese muten" is unlikely. The term is difficult to translate. "Wiese" is meadow, and "muten" means an announcement to mine for special ores or metals. The owner of the mine must announce to the mining authorities the ores or metals that he wants to mine before starting his work.
An origin of the name in the Erzgebirge area, especially at Schneeberg, is very likely. All the early documents on Bismuth refer to Schneeberg. The mining at Schneeberg started between 1400 and 1450. Schneeberg was founded as a result of the Silver findings at this time. Main parts of the Erzgebirge were primeval forest, and meadows were not a characteritic features at this time in this area. Main clearings of the forests were a result of the growing population due to the mining. Bismuth was found at Schneeberg in several mines in large quantities (in difference to other mining areas in Germany!), but the need of Bismuth was rather low - a small quantity for medical use and somewhat for the types for book printing. In all the early documents, there is only one Bismuth mine mentioned. Typical announcements were for Silver, somewhat later also for Cobalt ores, but not for Bismuth. With increasing book printing, the use of Bismuth grows, but at this time the name was already known.
All in all, a derivation from "in der Wiese muten" sounds nice, but is rather unlikely. Neither meadows were characteristic for the beginning of the mining in this area, nor "muten" for Bismuth is likely or were of greater economic interest at the time of the origin of the name.