In Upper German dialects, Kübel is the common name for larger vessels intended primarily for the transport of liquids. It occurs both as a simplex meaning 'bucket', but is also part of numerous compounds denoting the BUTTER CHURN.
The word is attested in Old High German as kubilo since the 10th century (cf. AWB: under kubilo). Especially in the wine-growing areas of the southern edge of the Alps, Latin cūpa was used to designate a large wooden vessel. From Upper Italy, the word then reached Upper German (cf. trent. ku'ej 'milking pail'). The original form, according to EWBD, (under bucket) is Old Provençal cubel 'small vat' with attested derivatives such as cubelot or Middle Latin cubellus (cf. FEW2, 1550 under cūpa). All go back to Latin cūpella, which Kluge also names as etymon (cf. Kluge: under bucket). Derivates of Kübel are found throughout the Eastern Alps (cf. the map Kübel), however, the alternative via the Old Prov., proposed by EWBD, seems unnecessarily complicated.