Blitz
See also: blitz
English edit
Etymology edit
Shortened from German Blitzkrieg (“blitzkrieg”, literally “lightning war”). The Blitz was in truth not a blitzkrieg, which is a rapid ground offensive based on superior tank forces. However, the word was current at the time for the successful German campaigns in Poland and France, and was transferred to the attacks on Britain, perhaps by association of Blitz (“lightning”) with the bombings.
Pronunciation edit
Proper noun edit
the Blitz
- (historical) The series of air raids launched on various cities in Great Britain by the German air force in 1940–41 during World War II.
- Synonym: Baedeker raids
Further reading edit
Anagrams edit
German edit
Etymology edit
From Middle High German blitze (“lightning”), from Old High German blëcchazzen, from Proto-West Germanic *blaik, whence English bleak and bleach.
Cognates:
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
Blitz m (strong, genitive Blitzes, plural Blitze)
- (meteorology) a bolt of lightning
- Ein Blitz erhellte die Nacht.
- A bolt of lightning lit the night.
- (photography) flash
Declension edit
Declension of Blitz [masculine, strong]
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
References edit
- ^ Friedrich Kluge (1883) “Blitz”, in John Francis Davis, transl., Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, published 1891
Further reading edit
- “Blitz” in Duden online
- “Blitz” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
- “Blitz” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.
- Friedrich Kluge (1883) “Blitz”, in John Francis Davis, transl., Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, published 1891