Kugel

See also: kugel

German

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkuːɡəl/
  • Audio (Germany (Berlin)):(file)

Etymology 1

From Middle High German kugel(e), of unknown origin. It is not clear whether Middle Dutch coghele, coeghele (modern kogel) is a cognate or rather a borrowing from High German. In the former case it would require a Proto-West Germanic *kugulā.

Possibly related with English cudgel, from Proto-West Germanic *kuggil, a derivative of Proto-Germanic *kuggǭ (“cog, swelling”), whence German Kogge (“roundish ship”).[1] This group has been compared to words like Lithuanian gugà (“hump”), Albanian gogël (“acorn”), and may be further derived from Proto-Indo-European *gew- (“to bow, bend, arch, curve”). Other German words that may be related to this root include kauern, Keule, Koben, Kuhle, Quaddel.[2]

Further discussion

The word appears from the Middle High German period referring to a ball used in games, e.g. skittles / bowling. A Swiss dialect form has an additional r, in Krugle, found already in Middle High German in the diminutive form krúgellin (Konrad of Würzburg, d. 1287). Another variant is contracted kūle, kaule, kulle. Low German and parts of West Central German used cognates of Klotz for the ball in skittles.

The sense “bullet” is probably an extension of the former use. However, it could theoretically be older than the introduction of firearms, because lead or iron spheres were already used as projectiles fired with slingshots.

Noun

Kugel f (genitive Kugel, plural Kugeln, diminutive Kügelchen n or (both rare) Kügelein n or Küglein n)

  1. a ball, usually solid [13th century]
  2. (firearms) bullet, projectile [15th century]
    Synonyms: Projektil, Geschoss
    Die Kugel ging mitten ins Herz. ― The bullet went right through the heart.
  3. (firearms, loosely) round, cartridge, bullet
    Synonym: Patrone
    Er hatte noch drei Kugeln im Magazin. ― He had three rounds left in the magazine.
  4. (of ice cream) scoop
    Synonym: Bällchen
  5. (astronomy, geography) orb, globe, celestial body [16th century]
  6. (geometry) sphere, orb [16th century]
    Synonym: Sphäre
  7. (heraldry) roundel (of any tincture)
Usage notes
  • The German words Kugel and Ball are distinguished inasmuch as the former refers to solid balls (such as those used for billiards or bowling) while the latter refers to air-filled or elastic balls (such as tennis or soccer balls). This distinction may be neglected colloquially or jokingly.
Declension
Declension of Kugel [feminine]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative eine die Kugel die Kugeln
genitive einer der Kugel der Kugeln
dative einer der Kugel den Kugeln
accusative eine die Kugel die Kugeln
Hyponyms
Derived terms
Descendants
  • → Albanian: kugëll
  • → English: kugel (“Christmas ornament”)
  • → Kashubian: kùgla
  • → Plautdietsch: Kugel
  • → Polish: kula (meanings other than "crutch")
  • → Serbo-Croatian: kugla

Etymology 2

Noun

Kugel f (genitive Kugel, plural Kugeln)

  1. alternative form of Kogel (“cowl”)
Declension
Declension of Kugel [feminine]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative eine die Kugel die Kugeln
genitive einer der Kugel der Kugeln
dative einer der Kugel den Kugeln
accusative eine die Kugel die Kugeln

References

  1. ^ Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; van der Sijs, Nicoline (2003–2009), “kogel”, in Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands‎[1] (in Dutch), Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press
  2. ^ Wolfgang Pfeifer, editor (1993), “Kugel”, in Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Deutschen (in German), 2nd edition, Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, →ISBN

Further reading

Luxembourgish

Etymology

From Middle High German kugel(e). See German Kugel for more.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˈkuʁəl]

Noun

Kugel f (plural Kugelen, diminutive Kigelchen)

  1. ball, usually solid
    Synonyms: Bull, Klatz
  2. bullet, projectile
    Synonym: Projektil

Plautdietsch

Etymology

From German Kugel.

Noun

Kugel f (plural Kugels or Kuglen)

  1. ball, sphere
    Synonym: Baul
  2. bullet, shell
    Synonym: Patroon

Derived terms

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