G. Roques in RLiR 49 (1985) 149 rejects the FEW's proposed link between pautraille and *spelta as the term seem to have little semantic similarity. He suggests that it may be a derivation of peautre¹ (FEW *piltrum 8,504b) ‘pewter’ as it can refer to an object of little value. He equally suggests that it may be a derivation of pel¹ (FEW pellis 8,156a) similar to the attested form pelaille. He suggests a third possible etymon in the Breton paotr meaning ‘serving-boy’.