קאָפּטשען

Yiddish edit

Etymology edit

Most likely some descendant of Proto-Slavic *kopъtiti +‎ ־ען (-en); compare Russian коптить (koptitʹ), Polish kopcić.

Verb edit

קאָפּטשען (koptshen)

  1. to give off soot and smoke (e.g. of a burning lamp or candle)
    • 1929, Eliezer Schindler, “אכסניה אין סטעפּ [akhsnih in step]”, in לידער [lider]‎[1], page 19:
      אין אכסניה רויכיק־טונקל קאָפּטשען גראָלעך נאַפֿטלאַמטערן.
      in akhsnih roykhik-tunkl koptshen grolekh naftlamtern.
      In a dark and smoky inn, kerosene lamps are giving off gray smoke.

Conjugation edit