mould

Mold Mold, Mould Mould, n. [OE. molde, AS. molde; akin to D. mul, G. mull, mulm, OHG. molt, molta, Icel. mold, Dan. muld, Sw. mull, Goth. mulda, and E. meal flour. See {Meal}, and cf. {Mole} an animal, {Mull}, v.] [The prevalent spelling is, perhaps, {mould}; but as the u has not been inserted in the other words of this class, as bold, gold, old, cold, etc., it seems desirable to complete the analogy by dropping it from this word, thus spelling it as Spenser, South, and many others did. The omission of the u is now very common in America.] 1. Crumbling, soft, friable earth; esp., earth containing the remains or constituents of organic matter, and suited to the growth of plants; soil. [1913 Webster]

2. Earthy material; the matter of which anything is formed; composing substance; material. [1913 Webster]

The etherial mold, Incapable of stain. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Nature formed me of her softest mold. --Addison. [1913 Webster]