Schmear
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Schmear is a word of Germanic origin, equivalent to 'smear' or 'spread' (usually fat or butter).
In some Germanic languages, the cognate of smear itself means butter.
 | Look up schmear in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
Origin:
Before 900; (v.) Middle English: smeren, smirien to rub with fat, anoint; Old English: smirian, smerian, smerwan; cognate with Dutch: smeren; German: schmieren, Icelandic: smyrja, Old Norse: smyrja, smyrwa; (noun) in current senses derivative of the verb; compare obsolete smear: fat, grease, ointment; Middle English: smere; Old English: smeoru; cognate with Dutch: smear; German: Schmer, Old Norse: smjǫr, Swedish: smör - butter; Danish: smør - butter; Greek: σμύρις (smýris) - rubbing powder.
The use and spelling of schmear or shmear in American English is a direct loanword from Yiddish, where its original usage referred to cheese. In modern usage it has extended to anything that can be spread, such as cream cheese spread upon a bagel.
In some cases, it refers to "an entire set or group of related things", or the expression "the whole shmear".[1]
As a slang term, the word shmir in Yiddish also refers to a slap on the face, primarily when disciplining young children.
It can also refer to bribery, as a "little extra" spread on top.
In card games such as Schafkopf, Pinochle or Sheepshead, schmearing is to play a high-scoring card to a trick in the hope that your partner will win it. See schmear (cards).
See also
- Bagel and cream cheese
- List of English words of Yiddish origin
References
Notes
^ Philologos (2006-02-10). "Now Shmear This". The Jewish Daily. Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved 2008-04-17..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
Sources
- https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9501E1D9163AF934A15754C0A961958260
- http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-151530407.html
- http://www.forward.com/articles/now-shmear-this/
- http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1997/06/08/1997-06-08_oy_vey_es_schmear__something.html
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