An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/hehlen

by Friedrich Kluge

hehlen, vb. from the equiv. MidHG. hëln, OHG. hëlan, ‘to keep secret, conceal,’ AS. hëlan, E. to heal, ‘to cover, conceal,’ Du. helen, ‘to conceal.’ Root hē̆l, from pre-Teut. kē̆l (Sans. *çal), in the sense of ‘concealing cover’; see further under Halle, Hehl, Hölle, Hülle, Hülse, as well as hohl, Höhle, and Helm. The Aryan root is attested by Lat. cêlare (ê as in Goth. *hêlei, which is indicated by MidHG. hœle, f., mentioned under Hehl), occulo, Gr. root καλ in καλύπτω, ‘I cover,’ καλύβη, ‘hut,’ OIr. celim, ‘I hide.’