An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/kahl

by Friedrich Kluge

kahl, adj., from the equiv. MidHG. kal (gen. kalwer), ‘bald,’ OHG. chalo (gen. chalwêr, chalawêr); comp. Du. kaal, AS. calu, E. callow. Probably borrowed from Lat. calvus (Sans. khalvâta, ‘bald-headed’), whence Fr. chauve, since Lat. crispus and capillare have also been introduced into Teut.; comp. AS. cyrsp, E. crisp, OHG. and MidHG. krisp, ‘curly,’ and Goth. kapillôn, ‘to crop one's hair.’ Probably the Teutons and the Romans were equally struck by each other's method of wearing the hair. Other etymologists are inclined to connect Teut. kalwa- with OSlov. golŭ, ‘bare, naked.’