Where does “Narrenkappe” come from?

Narrenkappe (German) comes from German Kappe, from Middle High German kappe, from Old High German kappa, from Latin cāppa, from Latin caput, from Proto-Italic kaput, from Proto-Indo-European káput, from Proto-Indo-European kap- — to seize, hold.

Narrenkappe (German): fool's cap

Definitions

  1. fool's cap

Ancestry of “Narrenkappe”, step by step

Narrenkappe traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Kappe

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanKappecap, hood
2Middle High Germankappe
3Old High Germankappacap, hood
4Latincāppacape, cloak
5Latincaputhead; headlike protuberance on an organ or body...
6Proto-Italickaputhead
7Proto-Indo-Europeankáputhead
8Proto-Indo-Europeankap-to seize, hold

via German narr

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germannarrfool a person being stupid or oblivious to facts
2Middle High Germannarre
3Old High Germannarroclown; fool
4Vulgar Latinnariomocking, deriding, jeering at
5LatinnarisA nostril, nose; An opening, orifice, vent,...
6Latinnasusnose; sense of smell; spout, nozzle
7Proto-Indo-Europeannéh₂s-nose, nostril
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kap-