kappen

kappen c

1. definite singular of kappe

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• Rhymes: -ɑpən

From Middle Dutch cappen. Further origin unsettled. Apparently related to German Low German kappen (“to clip, cut”), German kappen (“to clip, cut”), English chap and chop; thus it would also be distantly related to tjappen. The slang sense may have a distinct (unknown) etymology.

kappen

1. (transitive) to chop, as with an axe
2. (transitive) to cut down, fell (e.g. a tree)
3. (figuratively, intransitive) (in kappen op ...) to criticize
4. (colloquial, intransitive) to cease, give up, stop
5. (slang) to talk; notably
   1. (intransitive) to plead
   2. (transitive) to speak (a) slang

• Afrikaans: kap
• Berbice Creole Dutch: kapu
• Negerhollands: kap, kappen
• Skepi Creole Dutch: kap, cap
• → Papiamentu: kap
• → Saterland Frisian: kappe
• → Sranan Tongo: kapu, kappe
  • → Caribbean Javanese: kapu, ngapu

From kap (“bonnet, hood, cap”) +‎ -en. Women used to wear bonnets and caps, but these often left part of the hair uncovered; therefore kappen came to be used of the styling of head and hair in general, and was soon also generalized to males. The modern use specifically for cutting hair must have developed in part through association with etymology 1 above.

kappen

1. (transitive) to fit with a hairstyle or headdress
   1. (transitive) to cut (someone's) hair and model it
   2. (transitive) to dress (someone) with a bonnet, hood, cap
2. (transitive) to cover (something) with a (heavy) hood, casing etc.
3. (transitive, figuratively) to trick (someone), play a prank on

• haarkappen
• kapper
• kapsel
• verkappen

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

kappen

1. (transitive) to have offspring, especially piglets

• kabben

• kabbelen

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

kappen

1. plural of kap

• knappe

17th century, from Middle Low German kappen, from Middle Dutch cappen (“to chop”), perhaps a borrowing from Romansch and from Medieval Latin cappare (“to cut off”), from Vulgar Latin *cappo, from Latin capo (“castrated male chicken”). Compare Alemannic German (Alsatian) kchapfen (“to chop, mince”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈkapən/, [ˈkapən], [ˈkapm̩]

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kappen (weak, third-person singular present kappt, past tense kappte, past participle gekappt, auxiliary haben)

1. to cut down so as to make unusable; to cut off; to interrupt

   Die zurückziehenden Truppen hatten Befehl, alle Strommasten zu kappen.

   The withdrawing troops had been commanded to cut down all utility poles.

• “kappen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “kappen” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
• “kappen” in Duden online

• kappa

kappen m or f

1. definite masculine singular of kappe