Schlafittchen

18th century, but probably older. Generally explained as a reinterpretation (as a diminutive) of Schlafittichen, dative plural of obsolete Schlafittich, itself from an underlying *Schlagfittich, from schlagen (“to strike, thrash”) +‎ Fittich (“wing of a bird”), from the way a bird is grabbed by its thrashing wings. This requires that the word is of Central or Low German origin and that southern forms like Schlafittel are later adapations.

• IPA^(key): /ʃlaˈfɪtçən/ (prescriptive standard)
• IPA^(key): /ʃlaˈvɪtçən/ (commoner, at least in northern and central Germany)

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Schlafittchen n (genitive Schlafittchens, plural Schlafittchen)

1. (informal) something on somebody’s back by which they are grabbed in order to push or pull them: the collar, the hem of the jacket, the scruff of the neck

   Er packte den Betrunkenen am Schlafittchen und warf ihn raus.

   He grabbed the drunk man by his collar / by the scruff of his neck and threw him out.