Spinach quail
The term spinach Quail referred to colloquially an older or old woman, the quirkiness is assumed or which is characterized by a gaunt, thin body. The term is used in a derogatory way.
etymology
The term has been attested since around 1850. The word “spinach” probably comes from the southern German dialect and probably goes back to the phrase “spinne (r) te quail”. The word spider (r) t can mean both “crazy” (spun) and “(spindle) skinny”. The quail is to be understood metaphorically and alludes to the species of bird.
The Brothers Grimm demonstrate the use of the word "old, grim looking woman" from the Danzig dialect .
use
In everyday language the term has taken on different meanings; For example, numerous cooking recipes are named after the spinach quail, and the German band Die Ärzte has recorded a song in which the term clearly has a derogatory meaning.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Spinach quail in the phrase index
- ^ Heinz Küpper: Dictionary of German colloquial language , 1st edition, 6th reprint. Stuttgart, Munich, Düsseldorf, Leipzig: Klett, 1997, Lemma Spinach Quail
- ↑ Spinach Quail. In: Jacob Grimm , Wilhelm Grimm (Hrsg.): German dictionary . tape 16 : Sea life – speaking - (X, 1st section). S. Hirzel, Leipzig 1905 ( woerterbuchnetz.de ).