An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Kapelle

by Friedrich Kluge

Kapelle (1.), feminine, ‘chapel, orchestra,’ an early loan-word, which always remained, however, under the influence of Middle Latin capella, on which it is based, for while numerous other words borrowed from Latin have their accent changed according to the Teutonic method, the Latin accent is retained in Old High German chapëlla, Middle High German kapëlle, and the Modern High German form. It is true that in Middle High German káppelle (Modern Alemannian käppelle), with the German accent also occurs, and hence the Upper German Kappel, Käppel, frequent names of villages. Middle Latin capella has a peculiar history; as a diminutive of capa (compare Kappe) it signified ‘a cape’; the chapel itself, in which the cloak of St. Martin and other relics were preserved, first obtained the name of capella; then from about the 7th century the use of the word became general. —

Kapelle (2.), feminine, ‘cupel,’ Modern High German only; it is based upon a combination of Middle Latin capella, French chapelle, ‘lid of an alembic,’ and Middle Latin cupella, French coupelle, ‘cupel, crucible’ (diminutive of Latin cupa).