Kassel gloss

The Kassel glosses, likely from the early 9th century, are a collection of Latin equivalents for German words and phrases. While the text appears to be intended to represent Latin, its orthography is unusual, and scholars suggest it may have originated in France or the Rhaetian region. These glosses provide evidence of linguistic differences within Latin that allow for localization.1

The term "gloss" itself refers to a brief explanation of a difficult word or expression, often found in the margin or between the lines of a text. Historically, glosses have been used to clarify obscure terms in older texts, including Latin biblical texts like the Vulgate Bible. The Kassel glosses are one example of such linguistic aids from the early medieval period.21