An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Kelch
Kelch, masculine, ‘chalice, cup,’ from the equivalent Middle High German kęlch, Old High German chęlih, kęlih (hh), masculine; corresponding to Old Saxon kęlik; from Latin călicem (calix), borrowed at a time when the word was pronounced kalìkem (compare Keller); the suggestion that Kelch was first adopted from Ecclesiast. Latin on the introduction of Christianity, is refuted by the changes made in Latin crucem, ‘Kreuz’ (‘cross’), which was certainly not borrowed before this time; the German z for Latin c before e points to a far later period than the derivation of Kelch from calicem. There is greater probability in the assumption that the term was imported with the southern culture of the vine; compare Keller, Wein, and Becher. In English and Scandinavian the Latin a is retained; Anglo-Saxon calič, cœlič, and Scandinavian kalkr; compare Old Irish calich. In almost every language the word is restricted to ecclesiastical uses; compare French calice. —