An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Tafel

by Friedrich Kluge

Tafel, feminine, ‘table, tablet, slab,’ from Middle High German tavel, tavele, feminine, ‘tablet, picture, table,’ Old High German tavala (tabala, tabella), feminine, ‘tablet’; borrowed during the Old High German period from Latin tabula, tabella. Even in the pre-High German period Latin tabula passed into High German and was normally permutated; compare Old High German zabal, Middle High German zabel (see Schach). It corresponds to the Romance cognates, Italian tavola, ‘table, tablet, board, picture, French table (English table). —