Fisimatents

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Fisimatenten [fɪzɪmaˈtɛntən] is a slang term meaning nonsense , faxing or nonsense, in the broadest sense any action that causes circumstances or problems. The word is a plural tantum .

The wrong spelling as nasty emanation is widespread based on the word nasty , with whose meaning it seems related.

The origin of the expression is not certain.

Probable etymology

The word is actually used for the first time well before the French occupation (see below). It probably comes from the Latin official language of the late Middle Ages:

" Fisimatenten Plur. 'Nonsense, inconvenience, excuses". Visae patentes (literae) 'properly granted patent ', abundantly documented as visepatentes in the 16th century , becomes a 'superfluous difficulty' due to the derisive view of the bureaucratic. Under the influence of visament ' Zierrat ', m takes the place of p , as in 1499 'it is a viserunge and a visimatent'. All references in Spitzer, Teuthonica 1, 319 and Schoppe, Mitt. D. schles. Ges. F. Volkskde. 29, 298 "

- Etymological dictionary of the German language

In the more recent editions of the same dictionary, however, it is referred to as "stretched form to early New High German fisiment = meaningless ornamentation (on the coat of arms)".

Peter Wehle and the Truig Foreign Word Dictionary refer to another unproven derivation of visae patentes , that is, audited, checked documents which, if their authenticity was only asserted, caused difficulties with authorities. The German scholar Karl Gustav Andresen suspected the derisive twisting of the unpopular visum authenticum as a formula for an officially established fact behind the word creation .

Wolfgang Teuschl gives the Italian word fisima (dt. Mood, grille) as the origin.

Further etymological derivations

The word is often used in the phrase "don't make fisimatents" as a parental warning. The following explanation is often used for this:

“When Germany was largely under French occupation at the beginning of the 19th century , French soldiers repeatedly tried to lure German girls into their camps to pass the time. B. with the invitation: “  Visitez ma tente  ” (German:  visit my tent ) or “  Voici ma tente  ” (German:  see my tent there ). So when the evening was about to go out, the young women were given a certain amount of information, but no formalities . "

Another explanation for the origin of the word with the same historical background is:

"At that time, French soldiers who were guilty of a wrongdoing were invited to visit their superiors with the invitation:"  Visitez ma tente  "(  Eng. Visit my tent )."

Lutz Röhrich provides another explanation from this time :

“It was also explained in terms of folk etymology, but also as an excuse for late passers-by during controls by the guard:“  Je viens de visiter ma tante  ”( I just visited my aunt )."

- Dictionary of proverbial idioms

The word explanation from French is very widespread and is told again and again in Berlin and Rhenish local patriotism, because there actually more French words found their way into everyday life.

Web links

Wiktionary: Fisimatents  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ on "nasty" cf. Hans-Friedrich Rosenfeld : Germ. “Fis (t)” in its development in a figurative sense; To ndl. "Vies", German "nasty", "disgusting", "feeling disgusting", "tricky"; To ndl. "Fis", "visse", rhine. "Fiss", 'polecat'. In: Contributions to the history of the German language and literature. Volume 78, (Halle) 1956, pp. 357-420; Volume 80, 1958, pp. 424-460.
  2. ^ Friedrich Kluge: Etymological dictionary of the German language . 21st edition. Berlin / New York 1975.
  3. ^ Friedrich Kluge: Etymological dictionary of the German language . 23rd (1999) and 24th (2002) editions.
  4. ↑ Peter Wehle: Do you speak Viennese? 2nd Edition. Ueberreuter, 1980, ISBN 3-8000-3165-5 , pp. 123 f .
  5. ↑ True dictionary of foreign words . 7th edition. Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 2004, ISBN 3-423-34136-X , p. 302 .
  6. ^ Karl Gustaf Andresen: About German folk etymology . 7th improved edition. Reisland Verlag, Leipzig 1918, p. 128.
  7. ↑ Wolfgang Teuschl: Wiener Dialekt Lexikon . Schwarzer, 1990, ISBN 3-900392-05-6 , pp. 79 .
  8. ↑ fisima . In: Dizionari Sansoni. Italiano-Tedesco . 8th edition. Sansoni, 1992.
  9. ↑ Jochen A. Bär: The year of words - part 15 - Fisimatenten . German Linguistics University of Vechta. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  10. ↑ Lutz Röhrich : Lexicon of the proverbial sayings . S. 1793 .