Uncertain. Mayrhofer draws a connection to Latin Mārs (originally Māvors, from either Proto-Italic *Māwortis or *Māmart-) and Oscan 𐌌𐌀𐌌𐌄𐌓𐌕- (mamert-).
Mayrhofer also notes that more authors assume a suffixal -उत् (-ut, “breathing”), from the root वा (vā, “to breathe”); compare वात (vāta, “wind”), which in the plural can also refer to the Maruts.[1] For मर्- (mar-), he considers several origin possibilities:
| Masculine ut-stem declension of मरुत् (marút) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Dual | Plural | |
| Nominative | मरुत् marút |
मरुतौ / मरुता¹ marútau / marútā¹ |
मरुतः marútaḥ |
| Vocative | मरुत् márut |
मरुतौ / मरुता¹ márutau / márutā¹ |
मरुतः márutaḥ |
| Accusative | मरुतम् marútam |
मरुतौ / मरुता¹ marútau / marútā¹ |
मरुतः marútaḥ |
| Instrumental | मरुता marútā |
मरुद्भ्याम् marúdbhyām |
मरुद्भिः marúdbhiḥ |
| Dative | मरुते marúte |
मरुद्भ्याम् marúdbhyām |
मरुद्भ्यः marúdbhyaḥ |
| Ablative | मरुतः marútaḥ |
मरुद्भ्याम् marúdbhyām |
मरुद्भ्यः marúdbhyaḥ |
| Genitive | मरुतः marútaḥ |
मरुतोः marútoḥ |
मरुताम् marútām |
| Locative | मरुति marúti |
मरुतोः marútoḥ |
मरुत्सु marútsu |
| Notes |
| ||