Schmalz

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See also: schmalz

German

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Middle High German smalz, from Old High German smalz, from Proto-West Germanic *smalt (“(molten) fat, lard”), an ablaut derivative of *smeltaną. Doublet of Emaille. The figurative sense in part as a backformation from schmalzig.

Noun

Schmalz n or m (strong, genitive Schmalzes, plural Schmalze)

  1. (usually uncountable) grease, lard
  2. (derogatory) schmaltz (something cheesy or excessively sentimental, e.g., music), corniness
  3. (Austria) imprisonment for illegal activity
  4. (Vienna) english (spin imparted on a billiard ball by hitting it on the side)
Usage notes
  • The word is originally and predominantly a neuter. Alternative masculine use is common in the sense “schmaltz, corniness”, but is also met with in the literal sense.
Declension
Declension of Schmalz
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein das, der Schmalz die Schmalze
genitive eines des Schmalzes der Schmalze
dative einem dem Schmalz, Schmalze1 den Schmalzen
accusative ein, einen das, den Schmalz die Schmalze

1Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Attested in the 13th century in Schleswig-Holstein, thought to derive from Middle Low German smal (“small”), from Proto-Germanic *smalaz. Compare the English surname Small, Smalls.

Alternative forms

Proper noun

Schmalz m or f (proper noun, strong, genitive Schmalz' or Schmalzens or (with an article) Schmalz, plural Schmalz or Schmalzens)

  1. a surname — famously held by:
    1. Valentin Schmalz (1572–1622), German Socinian theologian
Declension
Declension of Schmalz
singular plural
masculine feminine
indef. def. noun indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative (ein) (der) Schmalz (eine) (die) Schmalz (die) Schmalz, Schmalzes, Schmalzens
genitive (eines) (des) Schmalz', Schmalz1 (einer) (der) Schmalz (der) Schmalz, Schmalzes, Schmalzens
dative (einem) (dem) Schmalz (einer) (der) Schmalz (den) Schmalz, Schmalzes, Schmalzens
accusative (einen) (den) Schmalz (eine) (die) Schmalz (die) Schmalz, Schmalzes, Schmalzens

1With an article.

References

Luxembourgish

Etymology

From the Middle High German smalz, from the Old High German smalz, from the Proto-West Germanic *smalt (“(molten) fat, lard”), an ablaut derivative of *smeltaną.

Pronunciation

Noun

Schmalz n (uncountable)

  1. lard, grease

Derived terms

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