vergattern

• IPA^(key): /fɛɐ̯ˈɡatɐn/, /fɐ-/

From Middle High German vergatern (“to assemble”), a chiefly Central German word alongside Middle Low German gāderen. Cognate to Dutch vergaderen, English forgather. In a military context the word originally meant “to line up troops and issue the orders”. It may later have been associated with Gatter (“grating, fence”), thus “to give someone a boundary that must not be transgressed”. Compare etymology 2 below.

vergattern (third-person singular simple present vergattert, past tense vergatterte, past participle vergattert, auxiliary haben)

1. (military, transitive) to officially commit a soldier to sentry duty and to the respective regulations

   Nachdem der Soldat vergattert worden ist, muss er sich unter allen Umständen an die Wachbefehle halten.

   When a soldier has been officially committed to sentry duty, he must observe the orders to sentry under any circumstances.

2. (colloquial, transitive, with zu) to impose a duty or punishment on someone

   Meine Mutter vergattert mich immer zum Rasenmähen.

   My mother always makes me mow the lawn.

• Vergatterung

From Middle High German vergetern, derived from gater (“grating, fence”), whence modern Gatter (“idem”). The modern verb form without umlaut through adaptation to the noun.

vergattern (third-person singular simple present vergattert, past tense vergatterte, past participle vergattert, auxiliary haben)

1. (transitive) to barricade; to separate with a grating or fence