The base for this is Lat. caput 'head'. In Latin, caput competed with testa, which actually meant 'clay vessel, shard'. In the larger part of the Romanesque language area, caput was given up in favour of testa (cf. FEW 2, 334 under caput). However, its original meaning prevailed in Lombardy, in southern Italy, in Tuscany, in Friuli, Grisons, Romania, Catalonia, south-east France and in the Dolomite Ladin area (Ita. capo, Lld. ćé or Friulan ciâf; cf. DELI 1, 199-200; cf. EWD II, 74-75). The Latin caput already had versatile metaphorical uses, such as 'the top, the peak, the tip' (cf. Georges under caput). In the Romanesque language area of the Alps, metaphorical terms denoting RAHM can be found, since it accumulates on top of the milk. Cappellus is the result of a similar metaphorical transfer.