Etymology
Always explained as a loan, this n. had two distinct senses in ME: 'drawing of lots, lots drawn' and 'splinter, fragment' (only
WA) which (so
MED, TPD 922) are usually explained respectively by comparison with MDu
cavele 'piece of wood used to throw lots' (also MHG
kavel 'lot') and OIcel
kafli 'cut off piece',
kefli 'cylinder, stick, piece of wood'.
The etymology of the root is uncertain. The OIcel
kafli 'cut off piece' and WGmc words are usually connected, with the MDu assumed to represent a sense extension of an original meaning 'piece of wood' (so Kroonen and, by implication, Orel). Its ulterior connections are more difficult to explain. Some input from the
i-mutated form represented by OIcel
kefli 'cylinder, stick, piece of wood' (and various formations on it), which are not attested outside Scandinavian languages (incl. Shetl.), also cannot be ruled out. It was perhaps conflated with OE
cæfl 'muzzle, halter, bit' < Lat
capulus 'that which is grasped, handle, holder' (see
DOE,
AEW s.v.) in ME
kevel 'bit for horse or mule' (cp. OIcel
kefling 'gagging'), which reflects the vocalism of the ON and is also attested once from
Havelok, in the sense 'gag' (see
OED s.vv.
kevel n.1,
cavel n.2,
MED s.vv.
kevel n.1 and n.3 and
EDD s.vv.
kevel sb.1 and vb.1). Note that Bj. derives it more confidently from the ON because of the absence of palatalization of /k/, which does not apply here.
PGmc Ancestor
?*kaƀl-
Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)
kafli 'cut off piece', kefli 'small piece of wood, club, round stick'
(ONP kafli (sb.), kefli (sb.))
Other Scandinavian Reflexes
Far kalvur, Icel kafli, Norw kavl, kavle, Dan kavl, kavle, Sw kavle, Sw dial kavel; Icel kefli, Norw kjevle, Sw dial kävle
OE Cognate
Phonological and morphological markers
Summary category
B2c