schmuck

See also: Schmuck and schmück

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Yiddish שמאָק (shmok, penis). Further origin uncertain. Possibly from Old Polish smok (dragon), or a baby-talk corruption of Yiddish שמעקל (shmekl), a dissimilated form of שטעקל (shtekl, penis, literally little stick). Alternatively from the verb Middle High German smucken, archaic German schmucken, which has several meanings respectively allowing different semantic connections: 1.) “to squeeze, press, fit into something tight”; 2.) “to hug, snuggle, kiss”; 3.) “to adorn, decorate”. The last of these three senses is perhaps less likely, but compare German Schmuck (jewellery) with English crown jewels.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʃmʌk/
  • Rhymes: -ʌk

Noun

schmuck (plural schmucks)

  1. (colloquial, vulgar) The penis.
    Synonyms: dick, prick; see also Thesaurus:penis
  2. (colloquial, derogatory) A useless item or person.
  3. (colloquial, derogatory, US) A jerk; an unpleasant or detestable person.
    Synonyms: dick, dork, prick, putz
    • 1995 September, The Playboy Interview: Cindy Crawford, Playboy
      One day my girlfriend, her boyfriend and I were sunbathing topless because that's Barbados - you can wear nothing if you want. And the Pepsi guy walks up and with my agent to meet us for lunch. I wondered if I should put on my top because I have a business relationship with him. I didn't want him to get offended because the rest of the beach had seen me with my top off. Meanwhile, as he's walking towards me he' saying to my agent "I hope she puts on her top.". He wasn't even being a schmuck, like wanting to see.

Derived terms

Translations

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Further reading


German

Etymology

From Middle Low German smuk (supple, bendsome, pleasing, beautiful, petite, cute) (compare Middle Low German smuk (ornament, jewellery)), from Old Saxon *smuk, *smukk, from Proto-Germanic *smukkaz (flexible, bendsome, easy), from Proto-Indo-European *smewg- (to slip, glide, slide).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʃmʊk/
  • (file)
  • Homophone: Schmuck
  • Rhymes: -ʊk

Adjective

schmuck (comparative schmucker, superlative am schmucksten)

  1. (dated) pretty, spruce

Declension

Further reading

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