An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Kapelle
Kapelle (1.), f., ‘chapel, orchestra,’ an early loan-word, which always remained, however, under the influence of MidLat. capella, on which it is based, for while numerous other words borrowed from Lat. have their accent changed according to the Teut. method, the Lat. accent is retained in OHG. chapëlla, MidHG. kapëlle, and the ModHG. form. It is true that in MidHG. káppelle (ModAlem. käppelle), with the G. accent also occurs, and hence the UpG. Kappel, Käppel, frequent names of villages. MidLat. capella has a peculiar history; as a dimin. of capa (comp. 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 cent. the use of the word became general. —
Kapelle (2.), f., ‘cupel,’ ModHG. only; it is based upon a combination of MidLat. capella, Fr. chapelle, ‘lid of an alembic,’ and MidLat. cupella, Fr. coupelle, ‘cupel, crucible’ (dimin. of Lat. cupa).