# An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/P (full text)

| This annotated version expands the abbreviations in the original entry P (full text). | Random word Special:RandomInCategory/Annotated entries in Kluge's Etymological Dictionary of the German Language |
* A - B - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S-Sch - Se-Su - T - U - V - W - Z
P.
Paar, neuter, from the equivalent Middle High German and Old High German pā̆r, ‘pair, two of the same sort’; formed from Latin par, ‘pair,’ whence also Modern French paire, and from this comes English pair.
Pacht, feminine, ‘compact, lease, tenure,’ from Middle High German (Middle German) paht, with the strictly permutated and more usual forms phaht, phahte (Middle High German), feminine and masculine, ‘rent, lease, justice, law’; so too Dutch pacht. The Modern High German form is due to Low German influence, as is indicated by the initial sound compared with Middle High German phahte. It is based on Middle Latin pactum, pactus, ‘compact, a sum stipulated by the compact.’ Old High German *pfahta is not recorded, probably only by chance, though Old High German (also Middle High German) pfât occurs a few times.
Pack, masculine and neuter, ‘pack, bundle,’ to which late Middle High German backen, packen, ‘to pack up, load,’ is allied; it is connected with a Modern Teutonic and Romance classical the source of which has not yet been discovered; compare Dutch pak, Scandinavian pakke, Middle English packe, English pack; Italian pacco, French paquet, &c.; also Irish and Gaelic pac, Breton pak, which some regarded as the origin of the cognates, though others refer them, with greater probability, to Old Icelandic bagge, ‘burden.’ —
Pack, neuter, ‘rabble,’ is Low German, and is historically identical with Pack, ‘bundle.’
paff, interjection, ‘puff! bang!’ Modern High German only, agreeing with Low German and Dutch paf, ‘puff!’; scarcely allied to late Middle High German baffen, ‘to bark’; it is rather a recent onomatopoetic form.
pah! interjection, ‘pooh!’ Modern High German only, of a similar origin to paff.
Palast, masculine, ‘palace,’ from Middle High German palast (compare Axt, Obst, Papst), more usual palas, neuter and masculine (with a varying accent), ‘large building with one main room, used for the reception of guests, for festivities, and especially for meals,’ and then ‘palace.’ It was adopted in late Old High German (the end of the 11th century) from French palais, Middle Latin palatium. See Pfalz.
Pallasch, masculine, ‘sword, falchion,’ Modern High German only, from Russian palásch, Polish palasz.
Pallisade, feminine, ‘palisade,’ Modern High German only, from French pallisade, which comes from Italian palizzata.
Palme, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German palme, balme, feminine and masculine, Old High German palma, feminine, ‘palm-tree, palm.’ Borrowed in Old High German from Latin palma through an ecclesiastical medium. Very many names of plants and trees had been previously introduced from the South of Europe.
Pamphlet, neuter, Modern High German only, from French pamphlet, which was again derived from the equivalent English pamphlet. The English word is not a native term, though its origin is not yet determined.
Panier, neuter, from the equivalent Middle High German panier, usually banier, feminine and neuter, ‘banner, standard.’ From French bannière, hence of the same origin as Modern High German Banner.
Panther, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German panter, pantel, neuter, ‘panther,’ late Old High German panthera, feminine, formed from Latin panther, panthera.
Pantoffel, masculine, ‘slipper,’ first occurs in early Modern High German, from Italian pantofola (French pantoufle), the origin of which has not yet been explained.
Panzer, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German panzer, panzier, masculine, ‘coat of mail,’ from Italian panciera, Middle Latin pancerea, ‘coat of mail,’ which is connected with Italian pancia, ‘belly, body’ (French panse, whence also Middle High German and Modern High German dialectic Panse, ‘belly’), and signifies literally ‘the part of the armour covering the abdomen.’ ​ Papagei, w., from the equivalent Middle High German papagey, most frequently papegân, masculine, ‘parrot’; corresponding to Dutch papagaai, English popinjay (Middle English pǫ̂pejai); borrowed from the equivalent Romance cognates, especially from Old French papegai (Italian pappagallo). The origin of these words is not yet determined; they are most probably derived from Arabic babaghâ.
Papier, neuter, ‘paper,’ from late Middle High German papier, neuter, which: is derived from Latin and Greek papyrum, whence also the Romance cognate, French papier (English paper).
Pappe, feminine, ‘pap, paste,’ from Middle German and Low German; compare Dutch and English pap; Middle High German (Middle German) pap, peppe, ‘pap.’ It is usually derived from Italian and Middle Latin pappa, ‘pap,’ allied to Latin pappare, ‘to eat.’
Pappel (1.), feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German papel, papele, feminine, Old High German (Middle Latin) papula, 1, ‘mallow.’ Of obscure origin; probably cognate originally with Pappel (2).
Pappel (2.), feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German papel, popel, feminine, ‘poplar,’ Latin pôpulus (French peuplier), with the Middle Latin variant papulus; from the French form (Old French poplier) are derived the equivalent Dutch populier and English poplar (Middle English popler). In the Romance classical Latin populus was changed in many curious ways in most of the dialects; compare Italian pioppo (from *ploppus for populus). Since the High German form is closely connected with the Latin, it must have been introduced by scholars, probably in the Middle High German period.
pappeln, verb, ‘to babble, prate,’ Modern High German only, an onomatopoetic term (compare French babiller), but linked perhaps to the equivalent Low German babbeln, Dutch babbelen (Middle English babelen, English to babble), whence the Modern High German form may be derived by permutation.
Papst, Pabst, masculine, ‘pope,’ from Middle High German bâbes, and with an excrescent t (see Obst and Palast), bâbest; Old High German bâbes first occurs about 1000 A.D. (in Notker); from the equivalent Latin pâpa. The initial and medial b in Old High German and Middle High German in contrast to Latin p may be compared with bëch, balme, bapel, and their variants pëch, palme, papel, in Middle High German The s of the Old High German form bâbes (earlier *bâbas?) is both strange and difficult to explain; compare Old Slovenian papežĭ, borrowed from it. This Latin Church word, which passed into German at a late period, cannot be connected with Modern Greek πάππας (compare Pfaffe); most of the corresponding Romance words have, however, no s (Italian papa, French pape). Yet Old French has sometimes pape-s instead of pape, with an inorganic s in the nominative (compare Pfau), for in Old French numerous mascs. in a could take an s in the nominative (poetes from poeta, prophetes from propheta, hermites from eremita, homicides from homicida, &c.). In Middle European German this form in s afterwards constituted the stem; besides Old High German bâbes compare also Dutch paus (from Old Low German and Old Dutch pavos, recorded even in the 9th century). The Low German form seems to have passed in the 10th century to the south of Germany. Old Icelandic páfe was probably formed under the influence of Anglo-Saxon pâpa (Latin pâpa), English pope. Moreover, Middle Latin pâpa was a respectful term used in addressing bishops, and since Leo the Great a title of the Roman pope, and also since Hierocles the title of the patriarch of Alexandria. Gregory VII. decreed in 1075 the exclusive right of the Roman pontifex to the title papa. The fact that Anglo-Saxon has preserved the Latin word in a purer form is explained by its having been borrowed at an earlier period.
Paradies, neuter, ‘paradise,’ from Middle High German paradîse, paradîs, pardîs (its accent fluctuates), neuter, Old High German paradîsi, paradîs, neuter (Middle High German î explains the earlier Modern High German Paradeis). It corresponds to Old Saxon paradîs, Dutch paradijs, Middle English paradise; the cognates are derived from the biblical and ecclesiastical paradîsus, παράδεισος (properly ‘pleasure-ground, park’), which again is of Persian origin. Compare Zend pairidaeza, ‘rampart, enclosure.’
Pardel, Parder, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German parde, Old High German pardo, masculine, ‘panther, leopard’; borrowed from Latin pardus; Middle High German variant part (pardes), masculine; the l or rather r of the Modern High German form is due to Greek and Latin pardalis.
Park, masculine, ‘park,’ early Modern High German, borrowed from French parc. See Pferch.
Partei, feminine, ‘party, faction, league,’ from Middle High German partîe, feminine, ‘party, division,’ borrowed from French partie (Latin and Italian partita, English party), whence also Modern High German Partie.
Pasch, masculine, ‘doublet, pair royal (at dice)’, first occurs in early Modern High German; from French passe-dix, above ten (at dice).
paschen, verb, ‘to smuggle,’ Modern High German only, probably from French passer, Italian passare, ‘to go beyond,’ with ‘frontier’ understood.
Paspel, masculine, Modern High German only, from the equivalent French passe-poil, ‘piping’ (for clothes).
passen (1.), verb, ‘to forego one's turn in playing,’ Modern High German only, formed from French ​passer, ‘to omit, pass.’ Numerous words relating to play are derived from the French; compare Pasch and Daus. — The meaning ‘to lie in wait, watch,’ comes, however, from Dutch passen.
passen (2.), verb, ‘to pass muster, suit, be convenient,’ Modern High German only, corresponding to Dutch passen, which is found even in the 13th century; from French passer. Derivative päßlich, ‘tolerable.’
passieren, verb, ‘to befall, happen, occur to,’ from French se passer.
Pastete, feminine, ‘pie, pastry,’ from Middle High German pastête, pastêde, feminine, from Middle Latin pastâta, whence French pâtée, ‘paste’ (for poultry), pâté, ‘pie’ (allied to pâte, Italian pasta, ‘dough’). Akin also to Dutch pastie, English pasty (compare paste).
Paß, masculine, ‘pass, mountain road, passport,’ Modern High German only, from Dutch pas, ‘step, passage, pass.’
Pate, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German pate (bate), masculine, ‘godfather, godmother,’ from Latin pater, the declension being changed to the weak masculine; Latin pater spiritualis, ‘sponsor,’ mostly Middle Latin patrînus, whence Italian patrino, French parrain (Dutch peet, petekind). Middle High German also pfętter, ‘sponsor’ and ‘child to be baptised,’ from patrînus, whence Modern High German dialectic Pfetter, Petter. The initial pf may be due to its having been borrowed at an early period (similarly Dutch meter, ‘godmother,’ is borrowed from Latin matrîna). In Suabian dête, masculine, and dôte, feminine, are chiefly used for Pate (dêtle, ‘godchild’), in Bavarian Tott, masculine and feminine. With regard to Upper German Gotte, Götti, see under Gote.
Pauke, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German pûke (bûke), feminine, ‘kettledrum'; a difficult word to explain. The Suabian variant baoke seems to be formed by gradation from Middle High German pûke. Perhaps the primitively word is bûggn, bauggn, an old onomatopoetic form.
Pausback, masculine, ‘person with puffed cheeks,’ allied to Middle High German pfûsen (pfnûsen), ‘to snort,’ with Middle German and Low German initial p.
pauschen, bausen, verb, ‘to puff up, blow up,’ Modern High German only, formed from French poncer, ‘to pounce,’ and ébaucher, ‘to sketch’ (hence the dialectic form durchponsen).
Pause, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German pûse, feminine, ‘pause, rest’; borrowed in Middle High German from French pause (Latin and Italian pausa), whence also Dutch poos and English pause. The Latin-Romance word passed through a German medium to the North. Compare Danish pause, Swedish paus.
Pavian, masculine, ‘baboon,’ Modern High German only, formed from Dutch baviaan (High German p for Dutch b, as in pappeln); the latter, like English baboon, is derived from French babouin, ‘baboon’ (Italian babbuino, Middle Latin babuinus). The derivation of these cognates from Middle Latin papio, ‘wild dog,’ is not satisfactory; their origin must be sought for somewhere in the South. Late in the 13th century the term passed into Romance and then into English; in Germany the animal seems to have been shown for the first time at the Imperial Diet at Augsburg in the year 1552 A.D.
Pech, neuter, from the equivalent Middle High German pëch, bëch (compare Papst), Old High German pëh, bëh, neuter, ‘pitch’; Middle High German pfich (very rare), from Old High German *pfih, unless it is a phonetic transcription of the Latin or Low German word. It corresponds to Old Saxon pik, neuter, Dutch pik, pek, Anglo-Saxon pič, neuter, English pitch; Old Icelandic bik. The Teutonic cognates are based on a Latin-Romance word; Latin picem, accusative of pix (with regard to the oblique case as the base compare Kreuz). Compared with Kreuz from crŭcem, the preservation of the guttural as k and of the vowel quantity in the stem is an important element in the history of the word. Latin pĭcem was naturalized at a much earlier period in German than crŭcem, probably in the 7th century. Compare further Italian pece, French poix, ‘pitch,’ from Latin picem (nominative pix).
Pedant, masculine, ‘pedant,’ Modern High German only, from French pédant, Italian pedante, of which the originally meaning was ‘instructor’ (the ultimate source is Greek παιδεύειν). “How the word obtained its modern sense is easily seen.”
Pedell, masculine, ‘beadle, messenger of a court or council,’ first occurs in early Modern High German; from Middle Latin bidellus, pedellus; bedelli universitatum is recorded in 1350. As the usher of a court of justice the word bedellus appears as early as the 13th century, and, like its Romance cognates (Italian bidello, French bedeau, ‘beadle’), is derived from Old High German bital, pital (Middle High German bitel), a derivative of Old High German bitten, ‘to invite, cite.’ See Büttel.
Pegel, masculine, ‘water-mark,’ Modern High German only, from the similar Low German form; compare Dutch pegel, ‘gauge-mark, standard,’ and peil, ‘gauge-mark, scale on which the height of the water is marked.’ These words are derived, like Anglo-Saxon pœgel, English pail, from a Teutonic root pag, which also appears in Alemannian pfeχte, pfeχe, ‘to gauge.’
​ Pein, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German pîne, pîn, Old High German pîna, feminine, ‘pain, punishment, torture’; adopted during the Old High German period on the introduction of Christianity from Latin poena, which was pronounced pêna in Middle Latin (compare Italian pena); Middle Latin ê appears in High German as î in other cases also (see Kreide and Feier), Compare Old Saxon pîna, Dutch pijn, Anglo-Saxon pîn, English pine (a later variant of pain); also Old Irish pían (genitive péne).
Peitsche, feminine, ‘whip, lash,’ early Modern High German, from Bohemian bič (Polish bicz).
Pekesche, feminine, ‘laced coat, hussar's jacket,’ from Polish bekiesza.
Pelikan, masculine, ‘pelican,’ from Middle High German pellicân, masculine, formed from Latin pelicanus.
Pelle, feminine (Low German), equivalent to Dutch pel, English peel.
Pelz, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German bellîȥ, belz, pelz, masculine, ‘fur,’ borrowed in the 10th century (Old High German pellĭȥ) from the equivalent Middle Latin-Romance pellicia, ‘fur’; compare Italian pelliccia, French pelisse. It corresponds to Anglo-Saxon pylce, English pelt.
Pennal, neuter ‘pen-case,’ Modern High German only, formed from Middle Latin pennale; with this compare Pennal meaning, ‘grammar-school, high-school, pupil.’ To the students at the university the school might seem as a huge array of pen-cases, and “in jest the freshman too was called a ‘pen-case,’ probably because he attended lectures regularly, and so carried his pen-case with him.”
Perle, feminine, ‘pearl,’ from the equivalent Middle High German përle, bërle, Old High German bërla, përala, feminine; a foreign word, as the fluctuating initial sound indicates. It corresponds to the Romance cognates, Italian perla, French perle, whence also English pearl; derived probably from Latin *pirula, ‘little pear.’ In Gothic, marikreitus, a corrupt form of Latin margarita, was used, corresponding to Anglo-Saxon mere-greót, Old High German męri-grioȥ, Middle High German męregrieȥ. —
Perlmutter, feminine, ‘mother of pearl, late Middle High German, formed like French mère-perle (Italian madre-perla); so too English mother of pearl. Perlmutter is literally ‘producer of pearls inside the mussel.’
Pest, feminine, ‘pest, plague,’ Modern High German only, from Latin pestis. —
Pestilenz, feminine ‘pestilence,’ even in Middle High German pestilenzie, pestilenz, feminine, from Latin pestilentia.
Petersilie, feminine, ‘parsley,’ from Middle High German pêtersil, masculine, pêtersilje, masculine, Old High German pêtarsile; borrowed from Middle Latin petrosilium (Greek πετροσέλινον), ‘parsley.’ In the Upper German dialects a shortened form is found, Peterli, Peterle (Peterling).
Petschaft, neuter, ‘signet, seal,’ from Middle High German petschat, petschaft, neuter; borrowed from the equivalent Bohemian pečet (Old Slovenian pečati); the f of the Middle High German and Modern High German words was introduced by associating them with Schaft.
Petze, feminine, ‘bitch, she-bear’; early Modern High German; its relation to the equivalent English bitch (from Anglo-Saxon bičče) and French biche is uncertain.
Pfad, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German pfat (genitive pfades), Old High German pfad, masculine, ‘path, track’; Old Saxon *path is wanting; Dutch pad, Anglo-Saxon pœþ, masculine, English path. The word is unknown to East Teutonic, and thus the difficulty of determining its origin is greatly enhanced. The prevalent opinion, which is based on the supposition, probably correct in the main, that the words beginning with High German pf and Low German p are borrowed, is satisfied with the phonetic similarity to Greek πάτος, ‘path, road,’ to prove the fact that Pfad is borrowed from the latter. With regard to this point we have to take into account the þ of the English word, which is assumed by High German, and which proves the existence of Pfad in German before the beginning of our era. But Teutonic has no such early loanwords of Greek origin (see Hanf). As we have no data, we cannot decide whether the word was introduced through a foreign medium; it is possible the word was borrowed indirectly from Greek, but the assumption that it was adopted directly from Scythian is equally valid; compare Zend paþ (also paþan, panþan), ‘way.’ In the latter case it must have passed into German after the primitive Teutonic permutation; Hanf was borrowed before this period. Its primitive kinship with Greek πάτος, ‘way’ (Sanscrit panthan, path, Zend paþan), must be decidedly rejected because Teutonic f would correspond to p in the non-Teutonic languages. Compare Humpen.
Pfaffe, masculine, ‘priest, parson,’ from Middle High German pfaffe, Old High German pfaffo, masculine, ‘priest’; corresponding to Low German and Dutch pape, ‘priest’; the common primary form is păpo. The Middle Latin term is clericus. The usual assumption that the word is derived from Latin pâpa, which was in the Western Church a respectful term applied to bishops and a title of the Pope, does not account for the fact that the term means ‘priest’ in all the Teutonic dialects of Middle Europea, and therefore must be decidedly rejected. In the Greek Church a distinction was made ​between πάπας, ‘pope,’ and παπᾶς, ‘clericus minor’; with the latter sense the German cognates are connected. It would also be remarkable if the p of a Latin word introduced into German at the period of the Roman conversion had undergone permutation (compare Priester, predigen, and Propst). The Greek word (possibly in the vocat. form παπᾶ?) may have been widely diffused throughout Germany even in the 6th century; it was introduced perhaps at a somewhat later period than Kirche, as might be inferred from the absence of the word păpa, ‘priest,’ in Anglo-Saxon and English. Here too we have a trace of the influence of the Greek Church on the Teutons; yet we cannot determine which tribe adopted Greek παπᾶς as păpa in its vocabulary and passed on the term (the meaning of Gothic papa in the Milan Calendar is obscure). It found its way even into Old Icelandic, in which pape, however, was strangely enough used by the Irish anchorites found in Iceland by the Northmen when they colonised the island. With regard to Latin pâpa see Papst.
Pfahl, m,. from the equivalent Middle High German pfâl, Old High German pfâl, masculine, ‘pale, stake’; allied to the equivalent Dutch paal, Anglo-Saxon pâl, English pole, pale. The cognates were undoubtedly borrowed from Latin pâlus (whence also French pal) contemporaneously with the cognates of Pfosten, and probably also with the technical terms relating to building in stone (Ziegel, Schindel, Wall, Mauer, and Pforte); all these words have undergone permutation in High German; see also the following word.
Pfalz, feminine, ‘palace, high official residence, palatinate,’ from Middle High German pfalz, pfalze, phalenze, feminine, ‘residence of a spiritual or temporal prince, palatinate, town-hall,’ Old High German pfalanza, pfalinza, feminine; corresponding to Old Saxon palinza, palencea (used in the Heliand of the palace of Pilate). The current view is content with the assumption that the word is based on Latin pălâtium, yet the relation of the one to the other is more difficult to determine than is generally imagined. As the permutation of Low German p to High German pf indicates, the word must have been naturalised in German as early as the beginning of the 8th century; in the age of Charlemagne it already existed in German. Besides, the nasal of the Old Saxon and Old High German derivative, which was retained down to Middle High German even, cannot be explained by the form of Latin palatium, nor can we discover why it was inserted. Old High German pfalanza and Old Saxon palinza clearly point to Middle Latin palantium, ‘murus, fastigium,’ palenca, palencum, palitium, ‘contextus ac series palorum’; we are thus led to ‘the fortress,’ or, more accurately, ‘the district enclosed by pales,’ as the originally sense of the word Pfalz. When, at a later period, under the Carlovingians, palatia were built in Germany, the word, which had been adopted long previously from the Latin, acquired the meaning of the similarly sounding palatium. In later Middle Latin appears also palantia for palatinatus, ‘the district of a count palatine.’
Pfand, neuter, from the equivalent Middle High German pfant (genitive -des), Old High German pfant (genitive -tes), neuter) ‘pawn, pledge, security’; it corresponds to Middle Low German and Dutch pand, and Old Frisian pand, which have the same meaning. It is usually derived from Old French pan, ‘cloth, rag’ (from Latin pannus); the West Teutonic word is more closely connected, however, with Old French paner, Provençal panar, Spanish apandar, ‘to fleece a person,’ apañar, ‘to take away’; hence Pfand, ‘taking way,’ or ‘that which is seized’ (Old French pan, ‘the thing seized,’ whence English pawn)?.
Pfanne, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German pfanne, Old High German pfanna, feminine, ‘pan’; widely diffused in Teutonic with the same sense, Dutch pan, Anglo-Saxon pǫnne, feminine, English pan. The permutation of p to High German pf indicates the early existence of the word in the form panna in German, perhaps about the 7th century, or, on account of the coincidence of the English with the Middle European German word, far earlier. The Latin form of patina, ‘dish, pan,’ is scarcely adequate to serve as the immediate source of the Teutonic words; compare further Pfennig. From Teutonic is derived the equivalent Slavonic pany.
Pfarre, feminine, ‘parish, parsonage, living,’ from Middle High German pfarre, Old High German pfarra, ‘parish’; corresponding to Low German parre. The current assumption that Pfarre is derived from the Middle Latin and Romance parochia (Italian parrochia), paroecia (Greek παροικία, French paroisse), and English parish (borrowed from French), is not quite satisfactory as far as the sound is concerned, since it assumes too great a modification of the word; note Old Irish pairche from parochia. The later parra recorded in Middle Latin is clearly an imitation of the German word, and therefore the latter cannot be based on it. Perhaps the ecclesiastical division was connected with an Old Teutonic *parra, ‘district,’ ​which is similar in sound and is assumed by the derivative Pferch; the idea associated with Pfarre in historic times originated, of course, in parochia, παροικία. —
Pfarrer, masculine, ‘clergyman, minister,’ Middle High German pfarrœre, Old High German pfarrâri, a German derivative of pfarra. Note that the word is not based on Middle Latin parochus (Italian parroco), ‘priest.’ There also exists a later variant, Pfarr, Middle High German pfarre, masculine; hence the derivative Pfarrei (Suabian and Bavarian).
Pfau, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German pfâwe, Old High German pfâwo, masculine, ‘peacock’; the Old High German form, with its permutated initial sound and its preservation of the v as w (see Käfig, Pferd), points to a very early loan-word from Latin pâvo (whence also French paon, Italian pavone). With regard to the form of the word, it may be remarked that while other loan-words from Latin are based on the oblique case (see Kreuz), in this instance the German word is classified under the n- declension, to which Latin pâvo (accusative pâvôn-em) also belongs. The peacock (compare mausern and Käfig) may have been known in Germany about the 7th or 6th century, or even earlier. Compare Dutch paauw, Anglo-Saxon pâwa and peá, English peacock, which were borrowed contemporaneously from the same source; Old Slovenian pavŭ is also allied.
Pfebe, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German pfëben, Old High German *pfëban, *pfëbano, masculine, ‘pumpkin,’ formed from Latin pepon (Greek πέπων), ‘pumpkin.’ Middle High German pfëdem, ‘pumpkin,’ and Old High German pfëdemo, are peculiar; besides these, Old High German pëpano, bëbano, and Middle High German bëben also occur without permutation. Compare bidmen.
Pfeffer, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German pfëffer, Old High German pfëffar, masculine, ‘pepper’; borrowed, as the unvarying permutation indicates, prior to the Old High German period from Latin piper (whence French poivre, Italian pepe), which assumption is supported by Dutch peper, Anglo-Saxon pipor, English pepper, Icelandic piparr (note in the non-Teutonic languages Old Slovenian pĭprŭ). The early adoption of the Latin word in Teutonic is confirmed by history. In 410 A.D. Alaric, before Rome, granted a truce, for which the city was obliged to supply, among other things, 3000 lbs. of pepper. —
Pfeffermünz, neuter, ‘peppermint,’ is connected with Minze, or rather its Old High German variant munza. See Minze.
Pfeife, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German pfîfe, Old High German pfîfa, feminine, ‘pipe’; borrowed prior to the Old High German period from Middle Latin pîpa (allied to Latin pîpare, ‘to pip, chirp’); hence also Dutch pijp, Anglo-Saxon pîpe, feminine, English pipe, Old Icelandic pípa; so too the Romance cognates, Italian piva, French pipe. —
pfeifen, ‘to pipe,’ from Middle High German pfîfen, from Latin pipare, from which we should have expected an Old High German weak verb *pfîfôn.
Pfeil, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German and Old High German pfîl, masculine, ‘arrow, dart’; corresponding to Middle Low German pîl, Dutch pijl, Anglo-Saxon pîl, English pile, Scandinavian píla, ‘arrow.’ Borrowed at an early period from Latin pîlum, neuter, ‘heavy javelin,’ with a change of gender and meaning. The Old Teutonic word for arrow, Gothic arhwazna, Old Icelandic ǫr, Anglo-Saxon earh (etymologically the same as Latin arcus, ‘bow’), disappeared on the introduction of the word.
Pfeiler, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German pfîlœre, Old High German pfîlâri, masculine, ‘pillar’; borrowed prior to the Old High German period from Middle Latin pîlâre, pîlarius (Latin pîla), ‘pillar,’ whence also Dutch pijlaar. Compare Italian piliere, French pilier, English pillar (to which English and French pile, formed from Latin pîla, is allied).
Pfennig, masculine, ‘a coin, one-tenth of a penny,’ from Middle High German pfęnnic, pfęnninc (genitive -ges), Old High German pfęnning, masculine, ‘denarius, a silver coin, a twelfth of a shilling.’ Its form and origin are difficult to determine. It may be derived from Pfanne, and thus its name may be due to its shape (perhaps ‘pan-shaped’ or ‘made in the pan’). A variant with nd, from the connection of the word with Pfand, is seen in Old High German pfęnting and Anglo-Saxon pęnding (variants of the more usual pęnning, pęnnig, whence English penny). With regard to the diffusion of the word, compare further Old Saxon pending, Dutch penning, Old Icelandic penningr; in Gothic a presumptive form *panniggs or *pandiggs is wanting. The suffix -ing frequently occurs in names of coins in the earlier periods; compare Schilling, Silberling, Old High German cheisuring, ‘imperial gold coin,’ English farthing, from Anglo-Saxon feórþing, ‘quadrans.’ From the Teutonic cognates are derived Old Slovenian pěnęgŭ, pěnędžĭ, ‘coin, money.’
Pferch, masculine, ‘fold, pen,’ from Middle High German pfęrrich, Old High German pfęrrih, pfarrih (hh), masculine, ‘fence, enclosure, especially for sheep’; corresponding to Anglo-Saxon pearroc, masculine, ‘enclosure, park,’ Dutch perk, ‘enclosed space.’ If the words with initial p in Low German and initial pf in High German are of foreign origin, the term on which they are based must have been introduced, on account of the correspondence ​between the Continental German and English words, at a very early date (about the 4th century). “It appears even in the earliest Middle Latin; parcus, parricus (Leg. Rip. and Leg. Angl.), parc (Leg. Bajuv.), in the latter instance as ‘granary,’” and also in early Romance; compare French parc, ‘pen, park’ (see Park), Italian parco. English park is based partly on Romance and partly on the Anglo-Saxon word. The source of all the cognates is incorrectly ascribed to Keltic; compare Gaelic pâirc, Welsh parc, parwg.
Pferd, neuter, ‘horse,’ from Middle High German pfërt (-des), neuter, ‘horse,’ especially ‘riding-horse, lady’s horse’ (in contrast to Roß, ‘war-horse’), with the earlier variants pfërit for *pfërirît, Old High German (from the 10th century) pferfrī̆t, pfarifrī̆d; corresponding to Low German pęrid, Dutch paard. The word seems to be Franconian and Saxon (in the Upper German dialects the old terms Roß and Gaul are still the prevalent terms; it was probably borrowed (about the 8th century?) from the early Middle Latin paraverêdus, parifredus (f for v as in Käfig; the change of v into f in this case, however, is common to Teutonic). Parverêdus, ‘horse,’ literally ‘near horse,’ is derived from Greek παρά and Middle Latin verêdus, ‘horse’ (allied to Keltic rêda, ‘waggon’). In the Keltic group, Welsh gorwydd, ‘steed,’ was retained. The Romance languages retain the Middle Latin word (in the Middle Latin collateral form palafrêdus, palafrênus) in the sense of ‘palfrey’; compare French palefroi (English palfrey), Latin palafreno.
Pfetter, see Pate.
Pfifferling, masculine, ‘toadstool,’ from Middle High German pfifferling, pfëfferling, masculine, ‘curry mushroom.’
Pfingsten, plural, ‘Whitsuntide,’ from Middle High German pfingsten, which in form is really a dative plural (compare Mitternacht), and was used at an early period for all cases; Old High German zi *pfingustin, ‘Whitsuntide,’ is by chance not recorded (Notker uses a pedantic semi-version, zi finfchustin). Formed from Latin and Greek πεντεκοστή (Italian pentecoste, French pentecôte), literally ‘fiftieth day after Easter’; Old Saxon te pincoston, ‘at Whitsuntide,’ Dutch pinksteren, as well as Old Slovenian pętikostij, Whitsuntide.’ While the term Ostern, applied to the Christian passover, was originally a heathen word, which has been retained in English and German, in this instance the ecclesiastical name obtained on the Continent, and that probably prior to the Old High German period, as the initial pf in Middle High German indicates; it was perhaps introduced through a Gothic medium contemporaneously with Kirche and Pfaffe. In English, Whitsunday (Scandinavian hoítadagr) was retained from a very early period, since it was the chief day for baptism, and the newly baptized were wont to wear white garments during that week; hence the German term ‘der weiße Sonntag’. (Dominica in Albis). From quinquagesima, the frequent rendering in Middle Latin of pentecoste, are derived Middle Dutch sinxen, Old Irish cincgigais, ‘Whitsuntide.’
Pfinztag, masculine, ‘Thursday,’ from Middle High German pfinztac; a word peculiar to Bavarian-Austrian, based on Gothic *pinta, equivalent to Greek πέμπτη (Modern Greek πέφτη), ‘Thursday.’ It seems to have been introduced by Arians with Pfingsten and Samstag (see also Kirche and Pfaffe); compare Old Slovenian pętŭkŭ, ‘Friday.’
Pfirsich, masculine and feminine (s after r as in Mörser and Hirse; yet Suabian pfêršiχ), from the equivalent Middle High German pfërsich, masculine, ‘peach’ (compare Italian pesca, French pêche, whence English peach). Although the word is not recorded until the 12th century, Latin persicum was naturalised in Germany even prior to the Old High German period (so too in England; compare Anglo-Saxon persoc), as the permutation of the initial p to pf indicates (compare Lärche and Pflaume), while Birne was adopted within the latter era. With regard to the gender see Pflaume. With the introduction of horticulture and fruit-growing from the South, numerous names of fruit passed into German; see Kirsche, Pflaume, and pfropfen.
Pflanze, feminine, ‘plant, vegetable,’ from Middle High German pflanze, pflanza, feminine; from the equivalent Latin and Romance planta (French plante, Italian pianta), whence Anglo-Saxon, English, and Dutch plant (so too Irish cland, Welsh plant). This term was borrowed at the same period as the words mentioned under Pfirsich.
Pflaster, neuter, ‘plaster, pavement,’ from Middle High German pflaster, Old High German pflastar, neuter, ‘plaster, court-plaster, cement, mortar, floor of cement or stones’; borrowed, perhaps contemporaneously with Büchse, in the 8th century, from Greek-Latin ἔμπλαστρον (compare Italian empiastro, French emplâtre), ‘plaster,’ which in Middle Latin also assumed the meaning ‘gypsum’ (compare Modern French plâtre), and was shortened to plastrum; compare Italian piastrello, ‘small plaster.’ In the sense of ‘pavement’ Middle High German pflaster was first used at the end of the Middle High German period. Compare English plaster and to emplaster.
Pflaume, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German pflûme, feminine, ‘plum’; borrowed, as the ​permutated initial pf from p indicates, previous to the Old High German period (see Pfirsich) from Latin prûnum, ‘plum,’ or rather its plural prûna. The change of gender in names of fruit was made even in the Romance group, as is shown by the words corresponding to Latin cerasum, pomum, morum, and pirum; see Birne and Kirsche. Hence the late Old High German pfrûma, feminine, ‘plum,’ in closer connection with the Latin form, and also pflûmo, ‘plum-tree.’ The s of the Latin word is changed into l, as in Latin morus, equivalent to Maulbeerbaum (compare also Pilgrim, from Latin peregrînus, which has, besides, m for Latin n). Numerous Middle High German and Modern High German dialectic forms, as well as the corresponding Dutch pruim, likewise contain r; compare, on the other hand, Anglo-Saxon plûme, English plum. The Romance derivatives of Latin prûnum are French prune, Italian prugna, Spanish pruna (in Middle Latin too forms with l and m occur instead of r and n; m, moreover, appears in South-East French dialects). As to the time when the word was borrowed, see Pfirsich.
pflegen, verb, ‘to nurse, cherish, indulge in, be accustomed to,’ from Middle High German pflëgen, Old High German pflëgan, ‘to take care of, take a friendly interest in, provide for, protect, carry on, be wont or accustomed to,’ Old High German and early Middle High German also ‘to promise, stand security for.’ It corresponds to Old Saxon plëgan, ‘to promise, stand security, be answerable for,’ Dutch plegen, ‘to nurse, execute, do, be accustomed’; also to Anglo-Saxon plëgian, ‘to move on rapidly, play,’ English to play. The Provençal and Old French plevir, ‘to assure, stand security,’ to which no definite Latin and Romance original can be assigned, is derived rather from Middle European Teutonic (Old Saxon and Old High German) than the reverse. English pledge originated in Old French pleige, Middle Latin plegium. Although the West Teutonic cognates must have existed perhaps as early as the 4th century, nothing definite can be asserted concerning their origin and their numerous meanings, the base of which seems to be ‘to act affectionately for, or in conjunction with, some one’; to this Greek βλέφαρον, ‘eye,’ as well as βλέπειν, ‘to see’ (Aryan root glegh?), is perhaps primitively allied. If the cognates have been borrowed, their source cannot be determined; Romance is out of the question, since it contains no suitable root from which they can be derived. See Pflicht.
Pflicht, feminine, ‘obligation, duty, allegiance,’ from Middle High German and Old High German pfliht, feminine, ‘friendly care, nursing, intercourse, sympathy, service, obligation’; a verbal abstract from pflegen; allied to Anglo-Saxon pliht, ‘danger,’ English plight, as well as Anglo-Saxon pleón, ‘to risk,’ and pleóh, ‘danger’.
Pflock, masculine, from the equivalent late Middle High German pfloc (genitive -ckes), masculine, and pflocke, masculine, ‘plug, peg’; corresponding to Dutch plug, verb and substantive, equivalent to the English verb and substantive plug. The word seems to be unknown to Upper German.
pflücken, verb, ‘to pluck, gather,’ from the equivalent Middle High German pflücken (Middle German pflocken); Old High German *pflucchen is by chance not recorded; compare Dutch plukken, Anglo-Saxon pluccian (Anglo-Saxon *plyččan may be inferred from Middle English plicchen), English to pluck, Old Icelandic plokka, ‘to pluck’ (birds). Since the word is so widely diffused in Old Teutonic (it is wanting only in Upper German; yet note Swiss blucke, ‘to pluck,’ from the primary form *bluggôn) there is absolutely no foundation for supposing that it has been borrowed. If it be assumed that the cognates found their way to the North with the South European culture of the vine in the 2nd or 3rd century, from Italian piluccare, ‘to gather grapes’ (Provençal pelucar, ‘to pluck out,’ French éplucher), then the early existence of the Romance word must be more definitely established.
Pflug, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German pfluoc (genitive -ges), masculine, Old High German pfluog, pfluoh, masculine, ‘plough’; corresponding to the equivalent Dutch ploeg, Anglo-Saxon plôh, English plough, Old Icelandic plógr. These cognates, which were diffused in Teutonic at an early period, as may be inferred from the agreement of the dialects, curiously correspond to the Slavonic class, Servian and Russian plugŭ (Lithuanian pliugas), though the normal permutation does not take place in Teutonic. The Slavonic word is probably borrowed from the Teutonic original, which was perhaps acquired during the migratory period; compare Pfad. Teutonic plôgo also appears in Rhæto-Romance and in Upper Italian; Tyrolean plof, Lombardic piò. Old Teutonic likewise contained many terms for ‘plough’ which afterwards became obsolete; Anglo-Saxon sulh (primitively allied to Latin sulcus), Gothic hôha, Old Icelandic arl, Old Saxon ęrida. —
Pflugschar, feminine, ‘ploughshare,’ late Middle High German pfluocschar, Middle English ploughschare, English ploughshare; allied like Middle High German schar, masculine and neuter, Old High German scaro, ‘ploughshare,’ to scheren.
Pforte, feminine, ‘door, gate, portal,’ from the equivalent Middle High German pforte, Old High German (Franconian) pforta, feminine; borrowed in the Old High German period, ​in the 8th century, from Latin porta; hence the absence of the permutation of t to z, which had been accomplished even in the 7th century (it is seen in Old High German pforzih, Middle High German pforzich, from Latin porticus, which was introduced in the 5th or 6th century with the Southern art of building in stone; compare Anglo-Saxon portič, English porch). In Middle German and Lower Rhenish, in which the permutation of t to z did not take place until later, we find in the Middle High German period the permutated form porze. Modern High German Porte, Middle High German porte, Old High German (Upper German) porta, is due to a more recent introduction into Upper German.
Pfosten, masculine, ‘post, stake,’ from Middle High German pfoste, Old High German pfosto, masculine, ‘post, beam’; compare Dutch post, ‘door-post,’ Anglo-Saxon and English post; from Latin postis, the diminutive of which, postellus (French poteau), is preserved in the Romance languages. The word was borrowed in pre-High German times contemporaneously with Pfahl.
Pfote, feminine, ‘paw, claw’; Middle High German *pfôte is wanting, though Lower Rhenish pôte, feminine, ‘paw,’ is recorded in the 14th century; corresponding to Dutch poot, ‘paw, foot, leg.’ The primary form pauta is also indicated by Old French poe and Provençal paute, ‘paw’ (compare also French patte, ‘paw, claw’?). Whether the Romance word is the source of the German is uncertain; allied also to English paw?. It has not yet been ascertained how the prevalent Upper German terms dåp, dôpe, ‘paw’ (Middle High German tâpe), are related to these cognates.
Pfriem (1.), masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German pfrieme. masculine, ‘awl’; corresponding to Dutch priem, ‘awl, dagger’; allied to Anglo-Saxon preón, ‘awl, needle,’ English preen, ‘tool for carding wool,’ Old Icelandic prjónn, ‘nail, plug.’ With regard to the interchange of n and m romp. Boden, Feim, Pflaume, and Pilgrim.
Pfriem (2.), masculine, ‘broom’ (plant), based on Pfriem (1); from Middle High German pfrimme, Old High German pfrimma, feminine, ‘broom,’ with the variant brimma, which indicates that the word was borrowed; corresponding to Dutch brem, ‘broom.’ The source of the cognates has not yet been discovered.
Pfropfen, masculine, ‘stopper, cork’ (first recorded in the last century); its form is based on the equivalent Low German propp, Dutch prop, ‘plug, cork, stopper’; allied to English prop. The cognates cannot be derived from Latin proponere; they are more probably connected with the following group of words.
pfropfen, verb, ‘to plug up, cork,’ from Middle High German pfropfen, allied to Old High German pfroffo, *pfropfo, ‘layer of a vine, slip,’ Middle High German pfropfœre, ‘graft.’ Old High German pfroffo, pfropfo, masculine, is derived from Latin prō̆pâgo, masculine (for the retention of the nominative form instead of the oblique case see Pfau), ‘layer, slip,’ whence also Italian propaggine, French provin. With regard to the period when the word was borrowed see Pfirsich.
Pfründe, feminine, ‘benefice, living,’ from Middle High German pfrüende, pfruonde, Old High German pfruonta, feminine, food, maintenance; especially the provisions supplied according to agreement; spiritual office and its revenue’; corresponding to the equivalent Old Saxon prevenda, feminine, Dutch prove. Borrowed in the 8th century from Middle Latin provenda, a variant of the earlier and more frequent praebenda (see Propst), which signified ‘cibi ac potus portiones diurnae, quae monachis, canonicis &c. praebentur’; hence Italian provenda, French provende, ‘store of provisions,’ Italian prebenda, French prébende, ‘prebend.’
Pfuhl, masculine, ‘pool, puddle,’ from the equivalent Middle High German and Old High German pfuol, masculine; corresponding to Dutch poel, Anglo-Saxon pôl, English pool. On account of the numerous West Teutonic cognates, as well as the diffculties presented by its sound and form, the word cannot have been borrowed at an early period from Latin pălus (accusative pălûd-em). The early history of the Teutonic pôlo- is obscure.
Pfühl, masculine and neuter, ‘bolster, pillow,’ from Middle High German pfülwe, neuter, Old High German pfuliwî, neuter ‘feather cushion’; also Old High German pfulwo, Middle High German pfulwe, masculine; borrowed at the beginning of our era, as is indicated by the invariable permutation of p to pf, and the retention of the Latin v as w, from Latin pulvînus (pulvînar), ‘pillow, cushion, bolster,’ probably contemporaneously with Flaum, Kissen, and Pips. Compare Anglo-Saxon pyle, pylwe, English pillow, Dutch peuluw, ‘pillow.’ The early period at which the West Teutonic form pulwîn was borrowed is attested by the fact that Latin pulvînus is not preserved in the Romance languages.
Pfund, neuter, from the equivalent Middle High German pfunt (genitive -des), Old High German pfunt (genitive -tes), neuter, ‘pound’; corresponding to Gothic, Old Icelandic, and Anglo-Saxon pund, English pound, Dutch pond, Old Saxon pund. Since the Gothic word coincides with the terms in the other dialects, Pfund must be one of the earliest loan-words from Latin; it passed into Teutonic probably at the same period as Münze, about the 2nd century, ​from Latin pondo (indecl.), ‘pound’ (not from pondus, ‘weight’).
pfuschen, verb, ‘to bungle, botch,’ Modern High German only, of obscure origin. Allied to the equivalent French bousiller?.
Pfütze, feminine, ‘puddle, slough,’ from Middle High German pfütze, feminine, ‘pool, puddle, well,’ Old High German (Middle German) pfuzzi, pfuzza (Upper German), buzza, feminine; corresponding to Old Low German putti, ‘well,’ Dutch put, ‘well, puddle,’ Anglo-Saxon pytt, ‘well, pit,’ English pit. The permutation of Low German t to zz, and the diffusion of the word throughout West Teutonic, proves the existence of the cognates in Germany in the 6th or 7th century; yet Upper German buzza seems to be a recently borrowed term. The word is based on Latin puteus, ‘well, cistern,’ whence also Italian pozzo, ‘draw-well,’ pozza, ‘puddle, pool,’ French puits, ‘well’; likewise Old Irish cuithe, Welsh peten, ‘well.’
Pick, Piek, masculine, ‘grudge, pique,’ Modern High German only; formed from Low German and Dutch pik, ‘grudge, anger, hate,’ which is derived from French pique, ‘pike; grudge, pique’ (compare Italian picca, ‘pike, pique’). The High German word may, however, be borrowed directly from French. See Pike.
picken, verb, properly Low German equivalent to English to pick, Anglo-Saxon pican, ‘to pick’ (English pike comes from Anglo-Saxon pîc).
Pickelhaube, feminine, ‘peaked helmet’; Middle High German (13th century) beckenhûbe (also beckelhûbe), feminine, ‘peaked helmet,’ allied to Becken; Middle Latin bacinetum, bacilletum, ‘helmet,’ whence also Italian bacinetto, ‘flat helmet, morion,’ is named from the originally basin shape of the helmet.
Pickelhering, masculine, ‘merry-andrew, buffoon,’ borrowed in the beginning of the 17th century from English pickle-herring, a term introduced by the English comedians into Germany.
Picknick, masculine, ‘picnic,’ Modern High German only, formed from French pique-nique, whence also English picnic. The origin of the word has not yet, however, been definitely established.
piepen, verb, ‘to pipe, pip, chirp,’ from Low German piepen, which, like Latin pipare, is an onomatopoetic form; compare the equivalent English to peep, Greek πιππίζειν, French pépier, Italian pipillare, Lithuanian pýpti, Czech pípati.
Pilger, masculine, and in an elevated antiquated style Pilgrim, ‘pilgrim,’ from Middle High German pilgrîn, bilegrîm (Pilger, from Middle High German pilgrî), masculine, Old High German piligrîm, masculine, ‘pilgrim,’ formed from Middle Latin peregrînus. From Old High German is derived English pilgrim. The change of Latin r and n into High German l and m is similar to that in Pflaume; the l in this word is found also in Romance; compare French pélerin, Italian pellegrino, ‘pilgrim’; in Italy, and especially in Rome, the change of meaning; from ‘foreigner’ to ‘pilgrim’ was easily suggested. The word was borrowed by High German in the 9th, and by English in the 12th century.
Pille, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German pillele, feminine, ‘pill’; formed from French pilule, Latin pilula (Italian pillola).
Pilot, masculine, ‘pilot,’ from French pilote, probably through the medium of Dutch piloot; the ultimate source is said to be Greek πηδόν, ‘rudder.’
Pilz, masculine, ‘mushroom, fungus,’ from the equivalent Middle High German büleȥ (bülȥ), Old High German buliȥ (Modern High German i for ü is Upper German and Middle German, as in Kitt); a specifically German loan-word (compare Low German bülte) from Latin bôlêtus (Greek βωλίτης), ‘mushroom’; probably naturalised in German before the 7th century, as may be inferred from the permutation of t to z (for Latin ê, represented by Old High German î and ĭ compare Kette and Münze). Its rare occurrence in Romance (Grisons bulieu, French bolet, Vosges bulo) supports the very early adoption of the word in High German (compare Pfühl).
Pimpernelle, feminine, ‘pimpernel,’ Modern High German only, formed from French pimprenelle (Latin pimpinella); Middle High German has the corrupt forms bibenelle, bibernelle.
Pinn, masculine, ‘peg, pin,’ from Low German and Dutch pin (compare Middle English pinne, English pin); from Middle Latin and Latin pinna.
Pinsel, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German pënsel, bensel (Middle German), pinsel, masculine, ‘painter's brush’; formed from Middle Latin pinsellus from penicillus, ‘little tail,’ whence also the equivalent French pinceau.
Pips, masculine, ‘pip,’ a Low German and Middle German form for the earlier Modern High German Pfipfs, from Middle High German and Old High German pfiffī̆z pfiffī̆ȥ, pfipfī̆ȥ, masculine, ‘pip’ (horny pellicle on the tip of a fowl's tongue). Borrowed at the beginning of the Old High German period or earlier (perhaps contemporaneously with Flaum and Kissen?) from Middle Latin pipita, whence also Italian pipita, French pépie; likewise Dutch and English pip. The ultimate source of all the cognates is Latin pī̆tuîta, ‘slime, phlegm, pip.’ In Henneberg the equivalent Zipf originated in the same primary word through the intermediate form *tipwita.
pissen, verb, first occurs in early Modern High German from the similarly sounding Low German and ​Dutch verb; allied to the equivalent English to piss, French pisser (Italian pisciare), The origin of this now widely diffused term cannot be easily determined.
placken, verb, ‘to plague,’ Modern High German only, intensive form of plagen.
Placken, masculine, ‘patch, piece,’ from Middle High German placke, masculine, ‘spot, place, district’; compare Dutch plak, ‘spot, blot,’ English dialectic platch (variant of patch). From these German words, the origin of which is obscure (they can scarcely have originated in Latin plaga), are derived French plaque, placard, &c. Perhaps Upper German bletzen, ‘to patch,’ which has probably lost a guttural before the tz, is also connected with these cognates.
Plage, feminine, ‘plague, calamity,’ from Middle High German plâge, Old High German plâga, feminine, ‘divine punishment’; adopted on the introduction of Christianity during the Old High German period (compare Pein) from Latin plâga, ‘blow, thrust.’ From the same source the Romance cognates, Italian piaga, French plaie, ‘wound’ (English plague), are derived.
Plan, masculine, ‘plain, plan, project,’ from Middle High German plân, masculine and feminine, ‘open space, plain’; from the equivalent French plan.
Planke, feminine, ‘plank, board,’ from Middle High German planke, blanke, feminine, ‘thick board, plank, fortification’; corresponding to Dutch and English plank; borrowed in the Middle High German period from the equivalent Romance and Middle Latin planca; compare French planche, Italian (Piedmontese) pianca.
plappern, verb, Modern High German only, an onomatopoetic form of a lost stem, blab, which is also indicated by the equivalent Middle High German blępzen, Old High German blabbiȥôn, ‘to blab, babble’; allied to Modern High German (dial) and Dutch blaffen, ‘to bark, yelp,’ Alemannian plapen, English to blab.
plärren, verb, from the equivalent Middle High German blerren, blêren, ‘to cry, bleat’; an imitation of sound like Dutch blaren, ‘to bleat,’ and English to blare.
platt, adjective, ‘flat, level, dull, downright’; in Middle High German, only Middle German blatefuoȥ and platehuof, ‘flat foot, sole of the foot,’ are recorded. It is most closely connected with Dutch (Low German) plat, ‘plat,’ which, like English dialectic plat-footed (i.e. flat-footed), is derived from Romance, French plat, Italian piatto. Their origin is ascribed to Greek πλατύς. To this plätten (Dutch pletten), ‘to flatten, iron (clothes),’ is allied, as well as Platte, feminine, ‘flat, dish’ (Middle High German blate, plate, signify only ‘covering for the breast, baldness’), formed from Dutch plat, ‘flat,’ French plat, English plate.
Platteise, feminine, ‘plaice,’ formed from the equivalent Dutch pladijs (platdijs), which is based on Middle Latin platessa; compare English plaice.
Platz (1.), masculine, ‘place, row, seat, situation,’ from Middle High German platz, masculine, ‘open space, place’; formed, like Dutch plaats, from the Romance cognates, Italian piazza, French and English place, which are derived from Latin platē̆a (Greek πλατεῖα), ‘street.’ The word seems to have been borrowed towards the end of the 13th century.
Platz (2.), masculine, ‘pancake, fritter’; Middle High German only in Middle German platzbęcke, ‘pastry cook’; allied to platt, or from Polish placek, ‘flat cake’?. The word is also current in Upper German.
platzen, verb, ‘to crash, burst,’ from Middle High German platzen, blatzen, ‘to fall with a noise, strike.’ This word and blesten, ‘to splash,’ are derived from an onomatopoetic stem, blad. Platschen and plätschern, Dutch plassen, ‘to plash’ (plasregen, equivalent to Platzregen), are intensive forms of platzen.
plaudern, verb, ‘to chatter, chat,’ from late Middle High German plûdern, a variant of blâderen, blôdern, ‘to rustle, roar’; a recent form in imitation of sound, like Latin blaterare, ‘to babble’
Plinze, feminine, ‘coiled fritter or pancake’; Modern High German only, an East Middle German word of Slavonic origin; compare Russian blin, blince, ‘flat, round cake.’
plötzlich, adverb, ‘suddenly,’ from the equivalent late Middle High German plozlich (also earlier Modern High German plotz merely); allied to *plotz, ‘sudden blow.’ In Upper German the adverb is quite unknown.
Pluderhose, feminine, ‘wide breeches,’ first occurs in early Modern High German; origin uncertain.
plump, adjective, ‘plump, unwieldy, coarse,’ Modern High German only, from Low German and Dutch plomp, ‘thick, coarse, blunt’ hence in Swiss pflumpfig, with the High German permutation); from Dutch the word seems to have passed into English and Scandinavian as plump. The term plump was originally an imitation of sound.
Plunder, masculine, ‘trash, lumber, plunder,’ from late Middle High German plunder, blunder, masculine, ‘household furniture, clothes, linen,’ which is probably a Low German loan-word (Middle Low German plunde, ‘clothing’). Hence plündern, ‘to plunder,’ literally ‘to take away the household furniture’ (also Dutch plunderen, ‘to plunder’).
Plüsch, masculine, ‘plush,’ Modern High German only, formed from tho equivalent French peluche (Italian peluzzo).
Pöbel, masculine, ‘populace, rabble,’ formed ​from French peuple; povel, pövel, bovel are found in Middle High German from the 13th century (compare English people in its original sense).
pochen, verb, ‘to knock, beat,’ from Middle High German puchen, bochen; compare Middle Low German boken, Dutch pogchen, ‘to boast,’ English to poke. The Modern High German verb is not borrowed from the Low German; compare Alemannian bochen. It is derived from a Teutonic root puk, buk.
Pocke, feminine, ‘pock,’ properly a Low German word, unknown in this form to Middle High German and Old High German; compare the equivalent Dutch pok, for which we should have expected Pfoche in High German, and in fact the dialects preserve this form. Allied to Anglo-Saxon pocc, English pock. The cognates seem to be based on a Teutonic root puh, ‘to swell,’ which appears also in Anglo-Saxon pohha, poca, English poke and pocket.
Pokal, masculine, ‘drinking cup,’ first occurs in Modern High German from Italian boccale (French bocal), ‘beaker, mug,’ which with its Romance cognates is usually traced back to Greek βαυκάλἰον, ‘vessel’; compare Becher.
Pökel, masculine, ‘pickle, brine,’ Modern High German only, properly a Low German word; compare the equivalent Dutch pekel, English pickle (see also Pickelhering). Origin obscure; perhaps the cognates are connected with English to pick.
Polei, masculine, ‘penny-royal,’ from the equivalent Middle High German and Old High German polei, pulei, neuter; based on Latin pûlêjum, ‘penny-royal’ (whence Italian poleggio, French pouliot).
Polster, masculine and neuter ‘cushion, bolster,’ from the equivalent Middle High German polster, bolster, Old High German bolstar. masculine; corresp. to Dutch bolster, Anglo-Saxon and English bolster, and its equivalent Old Icelandic bólstr. The cognates are connected with the Old Teutonic root belg, ‘to swell,’ to which Balg also belongs, hence the original sense is ‘swelling’ (Teutonic bolstra-, from bolhstro-). With the corresponding Sanscrit root bṛh, ‘to be great.’ Sanscrit upabarhaṇa, ‘bolster,’ is connected; compare also Prussian pobalso, balsinis, ‘pillow,’ Servian blazina (from *bolzina), ‘pillow.’
poltern, verb, ‘to make a row, rattle,’ from late Middle High German buldern (a variant of bollern?); allied to the equivalent Icelandic baldrast; probably an imitation of sound akin to Russian boltatĭ, ‘to vibrate,’ Lithuanian bildeti, ‘to rattle.’
pomadig, adjective, ‘slowly,’ Modern High German only, borrowed from the equivalent Polish pomalu.
Pomeranze, feminine, ‘orange,’ adopted in the 15th century from the equivalent Middle Latin pomarancia, a compound of Italian pomo, ‘apple,’ and arancia, ‘orange’; the latter word and French orange are usually derived from Arabic nâranǵ, Persian nârenġ, and further from Sanscrit nâranga, ‘orange.’
Pomp, masculine, ‘pomp, splendour,’ first occurs in early Modern High German, from French pompe, feminine (Latin-Greek pompa).
Popanz, masculine, ‘bugbear,’ Modern High German only, from Bohemian bobak, ‘frightful object.’
Port, masculine, ‘port, harbour,’ from the equivalent Middle High German porte, feminine, port, masculine and neuter; borrowed at a late period from Latin and Romance portus (Italian porto, French port), ‘port.’
Porzellan, neuter, ‘porcelain,’ Modern High German only. “This ware, at first obtained from China and Japan, was introduced into Europe by the Italians; porcellana in Italian originally denoted a sea-mussel, concha veneris; since this bore a great resemblance to porcelain, the name was easily transferred from the one to the other.”
Posaune, feminine, ‘trumpet, trombone’; a loan-word, as is indicated by the accent; it is met even during the Middle High German period as busûne, basûne, bosûne. On account of the remarkable variant busîne the word has been derived from Old French buisine, which, like Italian búccina, ‘trumpet,’ is based on Latin bûcī̆na. Compare further Dutch bazuin, ‘trumpet.’
Posse, feminine, ‘drollery, fun, farce,’ first occurs in early Modern High German; corresponding to Dutch poets, pots. Old High German gibôsi, ‘tricks, nugae’ (compare böse), cannot be allied to it. In earlier Modern High German Posse also signified the decoration, the accessories in works of art; hence the word has been connected with French ouvrage à bosse, ‘work in relief’ (compare Italian bozzo, ‘rough stone, stone blocks,’ bozzetto, ‘slight sketch’; also English bosh?).
Post, feminine, ‘post, post-office,’ first occurs in early Modern High German, formed from Italian posta (French poste), which is based on Middle Latin posita, ‘standing-place’ (for horses?). Similarly Modern High German Posten, ‘post, station, item, entry,’ is derived from Italian posto, ‘place, post,’ which again comes from Middle Latin positus, ‘standing-place.’
Pott, masculine, ‘pot,’ a Low German word; compare Dutch pot, English pot, and the equivalent Scandinavian pottr. From the Teutonic cognates are derived those of French pot and Spanish pote. The Teutonic word is said to be of Keltic origin; compare Welsh pot, Gaelic poit. Topf is not akin. —
Pottasche, feminine, equivalent to English potash; hence French potasse, Italian potassa.
Pracht, feminine, ‘state, pomp, magnificence,’ from Middle High German and Old High German praht, braht, masculine and feminine, ‘noise, shouting.’ The evolution ​in meaning is similar to that of hell; Middle High German brëhen, ‘to light, shine,’ may also have exercised some influence, as well as Modern High German prangen, the abstract of which could only be a form identical with Pracht. Old High German and Old Saxon braht, ‘noise,’ like the equivalent Anglo-Saxon breahtm, may be traced to a Teutonic root ƀrah, ‘to make a noise.’
prägen, verb, ‘to stamp, impress,’ from the equivalent Middle High German prœchen, brœchen, which come from*brâhhjan, a derivative of brechen?. Akin to Middle High German brœch, ‘stamp, impression.’
prahlen, verb, ‘to parade, vaunt, boast,’ from Middle High German prâlen, ‘to make a noisy parade, shout’; compare the equivalent Dutch brallen and pralen, as well as English to brawl. Its connection with French brailer, ‘to bawl,’ and Welsh bragal, ‘to brag, bawl,’ is uncertain.
Prahm, masculine, ‘ferryboat, punt,’ Modern High German only, borrowed from Low German; compare Dutch praam, ‘transport,’ Danish pram, Old Icelandic prámr, English prame. The whole of the cognates are derived from Slavonic; compare Slavonic pramŭ, which is connected with the Aryan root par, ‘to carry across,’ preserved in High German fahren (Old High German faran).
prallen, verb, ‘to strike, rebound,’ from Middle High German pręllen (preterite pralte), ‘to strike violently against, recoil.’ Further references are wanting.
prangen, verb, ‘to make a parade, display,’ from Middle High German prangen, brangen, ‘to adorn oneself, boast’ (compare Pracht); origin obscure. Its relation to the following word is uncertain.
Pranger, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German pranger, branger, masculine, ‘stocks, pillory.’ It is impossible to regard this word as a euphemistic term connected with prangen, on account of Dutch prang, ‘pressure, oppression,’ prangen, ‘to press, squeeze,’ pranger, ‘iron collar, barnacles, cooper's hook,’ English dialectic prong, ‘fork.’ These words show that Low German Pranger (the High German dialects have Pfranger) is connected with Gothic praggan, Middle High German pfrengen, ‘to crowd, oppress.’ The further history of the word is obscure.
prasseln, verb, ‘to crackle, rustle,’ from the equivalent Middle High German prasteln, brasteln, Old High German *brastalôn; compare the equivalent Anglo-Saxon brastlian. These words are connected, like Middle High German brasten, Old High German brastôn, ‘to crack,’ with the Old High German strong verb brëstan, Middle High German brësten, ‘to break.’
prassen, verb, ‘to riot, carouse,’ Modern High German only, from Dutch brassen, ‘to gormandise’ (akin to bras, ‘feast’). Old Icelandic brass, ‘cook,’ and brasa, ‘glowing coal’ (compare Old French brese, Provençal brasa), may be connected with it.
predigen, verb, ‘to preach,’ from the equivalent Middle High German prędigen, brędigen, Old High German prędigôn, brędigôn (brêdiôn); corresponding to Old Saxon prędigôn, Dutch prediken. Borrowed in the Old High German period from the ecclesiastical Latin and Romance prœdicâre (French prêcher, whence English preach, Italian predicare), from which Old Irish pridchim, ‘I preach,’ is also derived. —
Predigt, feminine, ‘sermon’; Upper German Predig; Middle High German brędige, brędigât, Old High German brędiga (brędia) and brędigunga.
Preis, masculine, ‘price, cost, prize, reward,’ from Middle High German prîs (brîs), masculine, ‘praise, splendour, noble deed’; borrowed in the 12th century from Old French prîs (Modern French prix), whence also English price, prize, Dutch prijs. The ultimate source is Latin prĕtium (whence also Italian prezzo). The expression preisgeben has nothing to do with this word, but is due rather to the equivalent Italian dar presa; Italian presa (equivalent to French prise), ‘seizure, booty catch,’ may be traced back to Latin prœhendere. Compare further preisen.
Preiselbeere, feminine, ‘cranberry,’ Modern High German only; the dialectic variants Preusel-, Praus-, Brausbeere seem to indicate a Middle High German *briuȥelbere; their relation to the equivalent Bohemian brusina, bruslina, Lithuanian brùknė, Lettic brūklene is not quite clear.
preisen, verb, ‘to praise, commend,’ from Middle High German prîsen, weak verb, ‘to assign the prize, praise, extol’ (in the 15th century it passed over to the strong verbs); formed from French priser, ‘to value, estimate’ (compare Italian prezzare, Middle Latin prĕtiare), whence Dutch prijzen, English to praise. With regard to the period at which the word was borrowed compare Preis.
prellen, verb, ‘to swindle, cheat,’ literally ‘to squeeze, push’; properly identical with Modern High German prallen, which see.
Presse, feminine, ‘press, pressure, strait, printing-press’; from French presse; Middle High German prësse, Old High German prëssa (pfrëssa), ‘winepress,’ is like the equivalent Anglo-Saxon presse (persa), Dutch presse, an earlier loan-word from Middle Latin pressa. Middle High German prësse, ‘crowd, throng,’ is connected with the equivalent French presse.
Priamel, feminine, from the equivalent late Middle High German preambel, priamel, ‘a short gnomic poem,’ which is derived from Middle Latin praeambulam, ‘proverb.’
prickeln, verb, ‘to prick, goad,’ Modern High German ​only, properly a Low German word, of which the strictly High German variant pfrëcken is once recorded in late Middle High German. Compare Dutch prikkelen (prikken), ‘to prick, stitch,’ Anglo-Saxon prician, English to prick, and prickle, equivalent to Dutch prikkel; these words are based on an Old Teutonic root prik, which, in spite of the initial p, cannot have been borrowed.
Priester, masculine, ‘priest,’ from the equivalent Middle High German priester, Old High German priestar (prêstar), masculine; corresponding to Old Saxon prêstar, Dutch priester (Anglo-Saxon preôst, English priest, Old Icelandic prest-r). The cognates were borrowed, at a comparatively late period, from Latin and Romance presbyter (Greek πρεσβύτερος), or rather from its shortened variant *prêster, whence also French prêtre (Old French prestre), as well as Italian prete, Spanish preste (likewise Old Irish cruimther). The original sense, ‘elder,’ was a respectful term applied to the spiritual head of the community (originally used perhaps only in addressing him); compare Abt, Papst, and also Herr. The Latin word was not adopted in Old High German before the 9th century (contemporaneously with predigen).
Prinz, masculine, ‘prince (of the blood),’ from Middle High German prinze, masculine, ‘prince (sovereign ruler)’; borrowed in the 13th century from the equivalent French prince (whence also English prince, Italian prence), which is derived from Latin princeps.
Prise, feminine, ‘capture, prize; pinch (of snuff)’; Modern High German only, from French prise.
Pritsche, feminine, ‘bat, racket, wooden sword of a harlequin,’ from late Middle High German *britze, feminine, which is only implied, however, by the two compounds — britzelmeister, Modern High German Pritschelmeister, ‘a harlequin carrying a wooden sword with which he directs the order of the game,’ and britzelslahen, ‘blow with the wooden sword.’ The meaning ‘wooden conch’ points to a connection between Pritsche and Brett.
Probe, feminine, ‘proof, trial, test, sample,’ from the equivalent late Middle High German prôbe, feminine, which is derived from Italian proba, ‘proof’ (compare French épreuve).
Probst and Provoß, see Propst.
prophezeien, verb, ‘to prophesy,’ Modern High German only, a derivative of Middle High German prophezîe (prophetîe), feminine, ‘prophecy.’ Allied to Middle High German prophezieren, ‘to prophesy.’
Propst, masculine, ‘provost,’ from Middle High German probest, brobest, Old High German probost, probist (provost), ‘superintendent, overseer, provost,’ a loan-word from Latin and Romance propositus (syncopated propostus), prœpositus, whence Italian prevosto, ‘provost,’ French prevôt, ‘assistant, provost.’ The word was borrowed by Old High German in the 9h century Profoß is a later loan-word, which, like Dutch provoost, ‘marshal (navy), provost-marshal,’ English provost, has assumed different meanings by connection with Old French prevost. Anglo-Saxon profast agrees with the German words in substituting the prefix pro for prae. Compare Pfründe.
prüfen, verb, ‘to try, examine, prove, test,’ from Middle High German prüeven, brüeven (preterite pruofte), weak verb, ‘to demonstrate, consider, count, test, put right’; this verb, which is of frequent occurrence from the 12th century, is based on Old French prover (Modern French prouver), which is again derived, like Italian provare, from Latin prŏbâre. The abnormal üe of the Middle High German verb comes from East French üe (East French prüeve, from Latin prŏbat). Compare French prouver, éprouve, English proof (even in Anglo-Saxon prôfian, ‘to demonstrate’). With regard to the treatment of Latin ŏ in recent loan-words see further Schule.
Prügel, masculine, ‘cudgel,’ from late Middle High German brügel, masculine, ‘club’; allied to Middle High German brüge, ‘wooden platform.’ The history of the word is obscure.
Prunk, masculine, ‘parade, ostentation,’ Modern High German only, properly a Low German word. Compare the equivalent Dutch pronk, which is perhaps allied to prangen.
Psittich, see Sittich.
Pudel, masculine, ‘poodle, slattern; blunder,’ Modern High German only; of obscure origin.
Puder, masculine, ‘powder, hair-powder,’ Modern High German only, from French poudre.
puffen, verb, ‘to puff, buffet, cuff,’ Modern High German only, properly a Low German word; compare Dutch pof, ‘thrust, blow, credit’ (whence Modern High German Puff in the sense of ‘credit’), probably allied also to bobbien, buffen, ‘to strike,’ English buffet, substantive and verb; puff (hence the meaning of Puff, ‘puffing of a sleeve’), and to puff (Anglo-Saxon pyffan). “The close proximity of the meanings ‘to blow’ (inflate) and ‘to strike’ is not unusual; French souffer and soufflet furnish a ready example; the Romance languages have the same stem,” though it is not necessary to assume that one was borrowed from the other; the stem buf may have originated independently as an imitative form in both groups. Compare Italian buffo, ‘blast of wind,’ buffettare, ‘to snort,’ Spanish bofetada, ‘box on the ear.’
Puls, masculine, ‘pulse,’ from the equivalent late Middle High German puls, masculine and feminine; Latin pulsus (akin to pulsare, ‘to beat’), ‘beat’ (of the pulse), ​is shown by Dutch pols, English pulse, French pouls, Italian polso, &c., to be a common term in medicine in the Middle Ages,
Pult, masculine and neuter, ‘desk, writing-desk,’ from the equivalent late Middle High German pult, neuter, with the older variants pulpt, pulpet, pulpit. A later loan-word from Latin pulpĭtum, ‘wooden platform,’ whence also Italian pulpito, ‘pulpit,’ French pupitre, ‘desk’ (English pulpit).
Pulver, neuter, ‘powder, gunpowder,’ from Middle High German pulver, masculine and neuter, ‘dust, ashes’ (also in the 15th century ‘gunpowder’). From Latin pulver (French poudre, Italian polvere).
Pumpe (East Middle German variant Plumpe), feminine, ‘pump,’ Modern High German only, properly a Low German word; compare the equivalent Dutch pomp, English pump. The further history of the word is obscure.
Puppe, feminine, ‘puppet, doll,’ even in late Middle High German puppe, boppe, from the equivalent Latin pûpa, whence also French poupée, ‘puppet,’ poupon, ‘chubby child’ (from which Dutch pop and English puppet are formed).
pur, adjective, ‘pure, downright, mere,’ Modern High German only, from Latin purus.
purzeln, verb, ‘to tumble head over heels’ Alemannian bürzle seems to suggest that this word is connected with Bürzel.
pusten, verb, ‘to blow, puff,’ Modern High German only, properly a Low German word; the strictly High German forms are seen in Middle High German pfûsen, ‘to sneeze, snort,’ and pfiusel, ‘catarrh’ Akin to English pose, ‘catarrh’?.
Pute, feminine, ‘turkey-hen,’ Modern High German only, perhaps a substantive form of the cry of the bird. Its connection with English pout (Turkey-pout) is not clear.
putzen, verb, ‘to deck, dress, polish,’ from late Middle High German butzen, ‘to adorn.’