An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Körper

by Friedrich Kluge

Körper, masculine, ‘body, substance, carcass,’ in the Middle High German period (13th century) korper, körpel, körper, masculine; borrowed from Latin corpus, or more accurately from the stem corpor-, a primary cognate of which exists in Old Teutonic from the same source (Aryan kṛp), Old High German hrëf, Anglo-Saxon hrif, ‘womb.’ Leich (see Leichnam) is the Old Teutonic word for Modern High German Leib and Körper. “The sacrament of the Church and the elevation of the Host, and perhaps medical art, led to the naturalisation of the Latin word.”