Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
MA'HALATH, Ps 53 and MAHALATH-LEAN'NOTH, Ps 88, occurring only in the titles of these two Psalms, are by most commentators held to be the names of some musical instrument used in the performance of the Psalm, or to contain some musical instructions with respect to the melody. Others, however, deriving the word from a root meaning "sickness," consider it a condensed or enigmatical indication of the idea of the Psalm.