An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Keller

by Friedrich Kluge

Keller, m., ‘cellar,’ from the equiv. MidHG. këller, m., OHG. chëllâri, m.; corresponding to OSax. kellere, m.; Scand. kjallare, m.; a Teut. loan-word which probably passed from the South through Up. Germany to the North; in England only the word did not obtain in the older period; E. cellar originated in the OFr. celier. The word was borrowed from late Lat. cellarium (with a change of gender and accent) in the pre-OHG. period, since the terms borrowed from Lat. in OHG. change Lat. c before open vowels into z (tz); comp. Kreuz. Keller may have been introduced into Germany from the South at the same time as Kelch (which see), perhaps with the culture of the vine; yet the word signifies generally ‘subterranean storeroom.’ —