A

Abfuhr (f), „jemanden eine Abfuhr erteilen"

(fencing) In case, when a duellist is so wounded, that the helper takes him away from the duel.

Anbieter (m), „Abtrittanbieter"

(Middle Ages) There were people with large coats who offered other people the service of letting them relieve themselves without being seen by other people. There were no pay toilets in the Middle Ages.

„anzetteln etw."

(weaving): Zettel—warp.

arm „arm wie eine Kirchenmaus"

(Middle Ages) There were no pantries in churches.

Arsch (m) „Bleiarsch"

(engineering) A lead plate sewn into a fabric. If a glider plane is too light, the glider pilot gets such a lead plate "under his ass."

Ast (m) "sich einen Ast lachen"

Ast (Buckel) (in old meaning) = hunch.

Aufheben (n), „viel Aufhebens machen um etwas"

(Middle Ages) During the jostling match the weapons were laid on the ground. The knights theatrically lifted their weapons while bragging about their skills.

B

Bank (f) „etwas auf die lange Bank schieben"

(the ancient world). Roman law was the first written law. Cases were written down, and the files were laid on a bench if the cases were too difficult. The files of the longest cases were shoved to the end of the bench.

Bär (m) „Vibrationsbär"

(engineering) (literal translation: vibratory bear) A machine that drives stakes into the earth. It is not as loud as a drop hammer.

Bein (n) „Eisbein"

(Middle Ages) The people in old Germany made skates from pig's knuckle bones.

Bissen (m) „da bleibt einem der Bissen im Halse stecken"

(Middle Ages) In order to find out if a person was guilty or not, he was given a piece of stale bread; if he was able to swallow it he was assumed to be not guilty.

blau, „blau machen"

(Middle Ages). Dyers hung out the blue dyed farbics for air drying. This took one day. On this day the dyers did not have to work.

Bohrer (m) „Zuwachsbohrer"

(engineering) Coreless drill for testing a tree without cutting it down.

Bremse (f) „Darmbremse"

(engineering) A part of a sausage machine for evenly filling an intestine with sausage.

Brett (n) „Damenbrett"

(zoology) A butterfly with black-and-white wings.

Brett (n) „Fummelbrett"

(engineering ) bricklayer's tool.

Bulle (m) „Rucksackbulle"

inseminator (veterinary medicine).

Büffel (m) „Spritzbüffel"

(engineering) During the drilling of a tunnel, this machine firms the walls and prevents them from crumbling.

C

„Charlottenburger"(m)

correct meaning: 80x80cm big carpenter's kerchief. With it young German carpenters go on a pilgrimage.

„Cicisbeo" (n)

An institution of male "house guests" for married women was legalized in Germany in the 16^th century.

D

Dachdecker (m) "Das kannst du halten wie ein Dachdecker!"

(Middle Ages) Roofers were practically uncheckable, because nobody was courageous enough to go to the roof and check their work.

Dalli, Dalli!

From Polish "dalej" = "forward".

Das „D" in D-Zug

„Durchgang-Zug" is a passing-through train, wich is walkable from the first wagon until the last one. The first „Durchgang-Zug"was used in Prussia in 1892.

To make a point about sth.

Dackel (m) „Trümmerdackel"

(legal language) Employee of an insurance company who interrogates the eyewitnesses of an accident.

Decke (f) „Spritzdecke"

A piece of fabric in a canoe for protection from splashing water.

Deckung (f) „wilde Deckung"

(trade) Covering a roof with nature slates of individual forms.

Diele (f) „Eisdiele"

At the beginning of 20^th century mobile ice cream freezers in German were forbidden. Ice cream makers sold ice cream through the ground level windows. To show what ice cream they had they placed a big board under the window to help children see the ice cream.

Ding (n) „alle guten Dinge sind drei"

(literal translation: All good things come in threes) Ding = Thing (old German) Thing = court procedure. Court proceedings took place in old Germany only three times a year. When the accused came to the third session, he couldn't count with the best deal (in the majority of cases he was convicted).

Das sind ja Böhmische Dörfer!

(Middle Age) This figure of speech came from the time of Thirty-Year War. During this war a lot of villages in Bohemia were destroyed. So "Böhmisches Dorf" (a village of Böhmen) meant something which was no longer.

"Duckdalben" (f)

Pilings in harbor for tying up ships.

E

Ecke (f) „Faulecken"

(literal translation: foul corners) (medical language) Inflammation of the corners of the mouth.

Effeff, „etwas aus dem Effeff beherrschen/ verstehen "

(Middle Ages) Quotations from the Pandectae (writings of old Roman legal scholars) were identified with Greek letter π (pi). Through repeated transcribings the letter was transformed into the German letters ff.

„Eingericht" (n)

correct meaning: everything in a bottle (wine, beer etc.).

Eis (m) „Bauernglatteis"

(literal translation: farmer's clear ice) In the summer tractors drop some of the crop on the road. If it rains, this turns into liquid manure and cars slip in summer like on clear ice in winter.

Eule (f) „Eulen nach Athen tragen"

Owl was the symbol of Athens. There were a lot of owls in ornaments, on coins etc., so it made no sense to bring more.

F

Falte (f) „Bananenfalte"

(medical language) A banana wrinkle is situated between the lower back and the thigh.

„Fräulein" (n)

Until 1953 the female public servants were not alowed to be married.

Fenster (n) „Spritzfenster"

(farming) A part of a field wich was not sprayed or fertilized to see the result of a measure by comparison.

Ferkel (n) „Spanferkel"

correct meaning: suckling piglet (literal translation: shaving piglet) While "spänen" means to "shave" or "cut" in modern German, in old German it also meant "to suck."

Fieber (n) "Bockfieber"

(hunting) German hunters call so the agitated state of a hunter, when he sees a buck in front of himself.

Fisch (m) „Backfisch"

Fishermen throw fish that are too little to eat back into the water.

Frosch (m) „Frosch im Hals haben"

This figure of speech comes from the Latin words "ranula" (blastoma in the throat, literally "little frog") and "rana" (frog).

Fuchtel (f) „unter der Fuchtel stehen"

German soliders in 16^th century were punished by beating with a stick (Fuchtel = a stick).

G

Gabel (f) „Marschgabel"

It is attached to wind instruments.

Geld (n) "Fersengeld geben"

(Middle Age) Upon divorce, the former husband paid money to the former wife as alimony. The old German word "Faerse" means "young cow" and was later transformed into "Ferse" (heels).

Geld (n) „Schmiergeld"

(Middle Age) People paid the coach driver more to oil the wheels, which enabled the carriage to go faster.

Gesicht (n) „Analgesicht"

(zoology) When two dogs meed for the first time, they sniff at each other's hind quarters. There are special glands which identify each dog—each dog has an "anal face" of its own.

Getriebe (n) „Malteserkreuzgetriebe"

(engineering) Special gear in a motion picture projector wich helps to run films backwards.

Glöcke (f) „etwas an die grosse Glocke hängen"

(Middle Age) The church bell announced the town meeting of the village or town. During the meeting people's private problems and family secrets were discussed by the the entire town.

Gras (n) „ins Gras beissen"

(Middle Age) After the battle wounded knights died on the battlefield. If the mouth of the knight was full of grass (or of dust) the people sayed, that he died in terrible agonies, because he bit the grass/dust with pain.

Griff (m) „Schwiegervater-Griff"

Gripping above the elbow during the handshake to feel if the lymph nodes are swollen—the sign of syphilis.

Grün (n) „das ist dasselbe in Grün"

In the 1925 the Opel factory in Germany produced a car in green all but identical with a French car Citroёn 5 CV. People said: „It is the same but in green."

H

Hacke (f) „eine Piephacke"

(zoology) Disease of horses: swollen ankle behind the hoof.

„Hasenzieher" (m)

(dog race) Person who starts a mechanical hare for a dog race.

Hand (f) „die Hand ins Feuer legen"

(Middle Ages) To confirm his innocence, the accused had to put his hand into the fire. Fast-healing wounds were signs of innocence.

Haube (f) "ein Mädchen unter die Haube bringen"

(Middle Ages) Only married women were allowed to wear hoods.

Haut (f) „das geht auf keine Kuhhaut"

In the Middle Age there were small pergaments made of sheephide and large ones of cowhide. If a text was too long, it wouldn't fit on the cowhide.

das Heft in der Hand haben

This figure of speech comes from interchanging two meanings of the German word "Heft." The old meaning is "handle of a sword".

Hering (m) „rote Heringe"

(criminal language) In the past in America criminals would leave a herring in tomato sauce on the site of the crime. They thought it would confuse the police dogs.

Hieb (m) „Besamungshieb"

(foresty) Cutting off tree-tops for better lighting of low-lying plants.

„Hohlhippe" (f)

In this case: Hippe—waffle tube for ice-cream)

„Hugo" (n)

Hugo = HUman remains carGO

Hund (m) „auf den Hund gekommen sein"

(Middle Ages) Germans used to keep their money in a chest with a dog drawn on the bottom to scare away thieves. If there was no more money in the chest, everybody coud see the dog on the bottom, so the owner was "coming to the dog."

Hund (m) „Passivhund"

(criminal language) Special sniffer dogs used in airports for detection of drugs and explosives. When such a dog finds something, it will not bark but lie quietly down. It prevents the criminal from being alerted and able to escape.

Hutschnur (f) „Das geht mir über die Hutschnur!"

(Middle Ages) In 14^th century Germany, hat string was a measure for the thickness of the jet of water from the water tap.

Hütte (f) „Luderhütte"

(hunters' language) Luder = dead animal, bait. Luderhütte = hunter's shed.

J

Jagd (f) „Fuchsjagd"

(literal translation:fox hunting) hot-air balloon sport.

O Jemine!

This interjection meaning surprise comes from the Latin "O Jesu Domine!" (O Lord Jesus).

K

Kaffee (m) „Blümchenkaffee"

If the coffe is weak, you can see the ornament of the coffee cup through the coffee.

Kamelle (f) "das sind doch olle Kamellen"

"olle Kamellen" is a transformation from "alte Kamillen"

Kante (f) „etwas auf die Hohe Kante legen"

(Middle Age) The latter expression goes back to a time before paper money when coins were wrapped in rolls and placed on a high ledge ("hohe Kante") for safekeeping.

Kartoffel (f) „rin in die Kartoffeln, raus aus die Kartoffel"

(military) There was a long dispute in 19th century Europe about the best attack strategy. Some military commanders thought the best attack is in the open field (rin in die Kartoffel); others insisted on the attack from a hiding place (raus aus die Kartoffeln).

Katze (f) „der/die geht ab wie Schmidts Katze"

Schmidt = blacksmith. There were mice in blacksmiths' shops, which destroyed the leather equipment; therefore blacksmiths had to have cats. When the blacksmith began to hit the iron to forge it, all cats scurried away from the shop because of the noise.

Kerbholz (n) „etwas auf dem Kerbholz haben"

(Middle Age) The people in old Germany who were illiterate had tally sticks for noting of their debts. Debts were recorded as notches on two tally sticks. One tally stick was for debtors, the other one for creditors.

Kipper (m) „einachsiger Dreiseitenkipper"

(officialese in German Army).

"Kipptester" (m)

(engineering) Equipment for testing the stability of gravestones in a graveyard.

Kopulation (f) „englische Kopulation mit Gegenzunge"

(botany) A special cut for the betterment of plants. First used in England.

Krankheit (f) „die Schweizer Krankheit"

(17^th—18^th centuries) German young people went to Switzerland to study. If a student was homesick, he called it a sickness from Switzerland.

König (m), „sich freuen wie ein Schneekönig"

„Schneekönig" (snow king) is the former name of „Zaunkönig"—wren. Wrens like to play in the snow.

Kuh (f) „Da stehste, wie die Kuh vorm neuen Tor!"

In old Berlin the tramways had no numbers but letters. The Q (pron. „ku:" like German word for „cow")line to the "New Gate" station was single-track, so passangers had to wait for a tram for a very long time.

„Kuhbrenner" (m)

(engineering) A special valve in the burner of hot air balloons to make the burner less noisy, in order not to scare the cows.

L

Lappen (n) „durch die Lappen gehen"

(hounting) The hunting grounds are surrounded by red rags. Some animals are not afraid of the rags and go through them, away from the hounting grounds.

„Lattenrichter" (m)

(engineering) This instrument will be laid on slats to check if the slats are at a right angle.

Leier (f) „Brustleier"

correct meaning: gimlet (literal translation: a breast lyre).

Loch (n) „das Loch vom Dienst"

(military) The first hole in the clouds, which is searched by a pilot to fly through.

„Lochschnüffler" (m)

(engineering) An instrument for detecting holes in bicycle tires (plastic case with styrofoam balls).

Löffel (m) „den Löffel abgeben"

In the Middle Age spoons were very valuable. If the grandfather died, his spoon was handed down to the youngest member of the family.

M

Mann (m) „ein Alter Mann"

(mining) (literal translation: old man)
old closed mine shaft.

Männchen (n) „Ladenmännchen"

Device for window shutters, which protects the shutter from slammimg.

Maus (m) „Hanauer Maus"

(engineering ) A valve on a tractor's tires for filling with water for more stability.

Meister (m) „Rüttelmeister"

A person who shakes the bottles of champagne to get the yeast to the bottom.

Miene (f) „eine Leichenbittermiene machen"

„Leichenbitter"—in old Germany a person who invited the relatives to the funeral.

Moos (n) „Moos haben"

(former German students' language) The meaning came from the Hebrew „ma'oth"—coin.

Möbel (n) „Erdmöbel"

a coffin—offcialese in the former GDR.

N

Nase (f) „Buchhalternase"

A zigzag sign in bookkeeping documents. When the calculation is finished, the bookkeeper puts a zigzag sign in the free space of a document as protection against changes which could be made later.

Nase (f) „Pechnase"

(Middle Ages ) "Pechnase" (tar nose) was a hole in castle wall used during the siege to pour boiling tar on the attackers.

„Nebukadnezar" (m)

Big bottle for red wine (15 Liter) (from Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylonia).

Niedertreter (m)

Slippers with little cap around the heel wich can be trodden down.

Niere (f) „Das geht mir an die Nieren!"

(Middle Ages) People thought that the kidney was the cause of adultery. That is why the penalty for adultery was the removal of one kidney.

Nippel (m) „Angstnippel"