Page:An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language.djvu/185

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The term became current in the Middle Ages through medical science, which was learnt from the Greeks (comp. Arzt, Büchse, Pflaster).

Kamin, m., ‘chimney, fireplace, fireside,’ from MidHG. kámîn, kę́mîn; the ModHG. accentuation, which differs from the MidHG., is due to the word being based anew on Lat. camînus, while the latter is due to a German version of the foreign word. E. chimney is Fr. cheminée, ‘chimney, fireplace,’ which is phonetically cognate with MidLat. caminata, prop. ‘room with a stove or fireplace,’ and hence with MidHG. kęminâte (γυναικεῖον); allied also to Czech, Pol., and Russ. komnata, ‘room.’

Kamisol, n., ‘waistcoat, jacket,’ simply ModHG. formed like the Fr. camisole, ‘under-vest’ (allied to MidLat. camisia, ‘shirt’; see Hemd).

Kamm, m., ‘comb,’ from the equiv. MidHG. kam (mm), kamp (b); it signifies ‘comb’ in the widest sense; OHG. chamb; comp. AS. comb, E. comb (also AS. hunigcomb, E. honeycomb?), Goth. *kambs. The term is undoubtedly OTeut.; our ancestors attached great importance to dressing their hair. The lit. meaning of the word is ‘instrument with teeth,’ for in the allied Aryan languages the meaning ‘tooth’ obtains in the cognate words. OHG. chamb is based upon pre-Teut. gombho-; comp. Gr. γομφίος, ‘molar tooth,’ γαμφηλαί, γαμφαί, ‘jaws, beak’; OInd. jambha, m., ‘tusk’ (plural ‘bit’), jambhya, m., ‘incisor,’ OSlov. ząbŭ, ‘tooth’ Gr. γόμφος, ‘plug, bolt,’ points to a wider development of meaning. —

kämmen, vb., ‘to comb, card (wool),’ is a verbal noun; ModHG. kęmmen, OHG. chemben, chęmpen; AS. cęmban. In UpG. the term strählen is current, Strähl too being the word for ‘comb.’

Kammer, f., ‘‘chamber, office,’ fro MidHG. kamer, kamere, f., with the general meaning ‘sleeping apartment, treasury, storeroom, money-chest, royal dwelling, justice chamber,’ &c.; OHG. chamara, f., ‘apartment, palace.’ E. chamber, from Fr. chambre; but the HG. word is based upon a Rom. word (Span. and Port.) camara, ‘room’ (Ital. camera), which again is derived from καμάρα, ‘any enclosed space with a vaulted roof, a term restricted to the more civilised classes in the Middle Ages and current in the Rom. and Teut. groups; comp. further OFr. camra, Slav. komora. The numerous meanings in MidHG. are

also indicated by the ModHG. derivatives and compound terms Kämmerer, Kämmerei, and Kammerherr.

Kammertuch, n., ‘cambric,’ manufactured first at Cambray (Du. Kamerijk); corresponding to Du. kamerijksdock.

Kamp, m., a LG. word, comp. Du. (MidDu.) kamp; from Lat. campus?. Kamp, however, has a special sense, ‘enclosed piece of ground, field.’

Kämpe, m., ‘combatant, wrestler,’ first introduced into literary ModHG. by the study of the Teut. languages, yet the special history of the word is not known. The form Indicates a LG. origin; comp. OLG. kęmpio, ‘combatant, warrior.’ Perhaps it was orig. a legal term of the Saxon Code. See Kampf.

Kampf, m., ‘combat,’ from MidHG. kampf, m. and n., ‘combat, duel, tilting’; OHG. champf, m., AS. camp, comp; OIc. kapp, n. The OIc. word is interesting, because it signifies lit. ‘zeal, emulation,’ which is the orig. meaning of Kampf (ModHG. Krieg has gone through a similar development of meaning). Hence there is no probability in the assumption that OTeut. *kampa- is derived from Lat. campus, thus connecting it with Campus Martius. This older assumption receives no support from phonetic laws, for kamp does not look unlike a Teut. word, while the meaning of the Scand. word makes it impossible. We should consider, too, whether the old Teutons, with their numerous terms relating to war, had any need of borrowing such a word. Some connect OTeut. kampo- with Sans. jañg, ‘to fight.’ HG. Kämpfer, and Kämpfe, Kämpe, prop. ‘combatant,’ is MidHG. kęmpfe, OHG. chęmphio, ‘wrestler, duellist’; AS. cęmpa, and OIc. kappe signify ‘warrior, hero’; this term, denoting the agent, passed into Rom. (comp. Fr. champion, whence also E. champion).

Kampfer, m., ‘camphor,’ from MidHG. kampfer, gaffer, m., from MidLat. camphora, cafura (Fr. camphre; Ital. canfora and cafura, ModGr. καφουρά); the latter terms derived finally from Ind. karpûra, kapûr, or from Hebr. kôpher, ‘pitch, resin.’

Kanel, m., ‘cinnamon bark,’ accented on the termination, from MidHG. kanêl, ‘stick or cane of cinnamon’; the word was borrowed in the MidHG. period from Fr. canelle, cannelle, ‘cinnamon bark,’ which is a diminut. of Fr. canne (Lat. canna) ‘cane,’ Ital. canella, ‘tube.’