kapitull

Kapitull is a term encountered in several languages with different meanings. Etymologically, it derives from the Latin capitulum, meaning "little head," itself a diminutive of caput "head."

In historical church administration within some Slavic languages, related forms such as kapituła or kapitull have referred to a cathedral chapter—the body of canons responsible for governance of a cathedral or collegiate church. In manuscript and archival contexts, kapitull may appear as an archaic or regional word for a chapter or section of a document.

In botany and biology, the cognate term capitulum is used to describe a compact, flower-head-like inflorescence found in plants such as daisies and sunflowers; though "kapitull" is not the standard term in modern scientific English, it may appear in translations or dialectal usage as a variant spelling of capitulum.

In publishing and literature, kapitull can appear as an archaic or regional synonym for a chapter or subdivision of a text, especially in translations of ecclesiastical or legal works.

Because of its varied uses and regional spellings, kapitull is primarily of interest in philology, historical linguistics, and regional studies. In contemporary English-language texts the standard terms are chapter (literary) and capitulum (scientific). See also Capitulum; Chapter; Cathedral chapter.