Backfisch

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word Backfisch. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word Backfisch, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say Backfisch in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word Backfisch you have here. The definition of the word Backfisch will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofBackfisch, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: backfisch

German

German Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia de

Etymology

From backen (to bake) +‎ Fisch (fish). Figurative sense probably from the use of younger, smaller fish for baking, although many different theories exist.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key):
  • Audio:(file)
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

Backfisch m (strong, genitive Backfisches or Backfischs, plural Backfische)

  1. baked or fried fish, or a fish intended for baking or frying
  2. (humorous, dated) backfisch, teenage or late-adolescent girl
    • 1924, Thomas Mann, Der Zauberberg, volume 1, Berlin: S. Fischer, page 91:
      Sie war noch auf, als ich hier ankam, und ausgelassen lustig konnte sie sein, so dalberig, recht wie ein Backfisch.
      She was still awake when I got here, and she could be wildly funny, so silly, right as a teenage girl.

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Dutch: bakvis (calque)
  • English: backfisch
  • Hungarian: bakfis
  • Swedish: backfisch

Further reading

  • Backfisch” in Duden online
  • Backfisch” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache