Kugel

Etymology 1
From, , of origin, but probably related to.

Possibly from Proto-Germanic *kuggilaz (“knobbed instrument”), derivative of Proto-Germanic *kuggǭ (“cog, swelling”), from Proto-Indo-European *gewgʰ- (“swelling, bow”), from Proto-Indo-European *gew-, *gū- (“to bow, bend, arch, curve”), perhaps same source of 🇨🇬 “acorn, small ball”.

Outside of loans from German (as in 🇨🇬 and 🇨🇬), it appears only in German, and only from the Middle High German period, as kugel, kugele, referring to a ball used in games. Nevertheless, the word seems to be of genuinely origin. 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). Middle German variants of the word in the original sense “ball used in skittles or Paille-maille” are kaule, kulle, while Low German had cognates of. The sense “bullet” is directly via comparison with the ball in skittles, already in use for lead or iron spheres used as projectiles (fired with slingshots or similar) before firearms became widespread.

Also compared are, as well as 🇨🇬 and , though these connections are far from certain.

Noun

 * 1) ball
 * 2)  bullet, projectile
 * 3)  round, cartridge, bullet
 * 4)  orb, globe, celestial body
 * 5)  sphere, orb
 * 6)  roundel
 * 7)  scoop
 * 1)  orb, globe, celestial body
 * 2)  sphere, orb
 * 3)  roundel
 * 4)  scoop
 * 1)  scoop

Usage notes

 * The German words Kugel and 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.