English
chaplain
Chaplain comes from Old French chapelain, and goes back to Late Latin cappella ‘little coat’.
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEcappella‘little coat’
- Late Latin, derivedc. 200–600 CEcappellānus
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400chapelain
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500chapeleyn‘a chaplain’
- Englishearliest quotation 2021chaplain
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEcappella‘little coat’
- Late Latin, derivedc. 200–600 CEcappellānus
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400chapelain
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500chapeleyn‘a chaplain’
- Englishearliest quotation 2021chaplain
Earliest quotation: 2021, Stefanie Foster, Network News: Countdown is on to the National Rail Awards 20: “The Railway Mission's regionally based chaplains perform the role…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’
had, case, except, heavy, cash, accept, receive, catch, cable, heavily, capacity, behavior, capable, achieve, capture, recipe, reception, occupation, perception, chase, recipient, haven, behave, anticipation, anticipate, susceptible, deception, hawk, cater, caption, captive, capsule, cassette, captivity, conceive, deceive, deceptive, casket, deceit, chassis, 134 more
through Proto-Indo-European *káput ‘head’
through Proto-Italic *kaput ‘head’
capitalism, capitalize, capitan, capote, capitaine, 60 more
through Latin caput ‘head’
capital, captain, cattle, chapter, chef, capitol, precipitation, capita, cad, mischief, mischievous, precipitate, occipital, caddie, precipitous, capillary, capo, chieftain, escapade, jefe, dishevelled, capitulate, chattel, chabot, caput, cabochon, 67 more
through Latin cappa ‘cape’
escape, cape, cope, cabin, cabana, capa, scamper, scamp, kaput, capuchin, chaperon, 19 more
through Late Latin cappella ‘little coat’
Today it means
noun A member of a religious body (who is often, although not always, of the clergy) officially assigned to provide pastoral care at an institution, group, private chapel, etc.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Late Latin cappella / chaplain