Elster
See also: ELSTER
English edit
Etymology edit
Proper noun edit
Elster (plural Elsters)
- A surname from German.
Statistics edit
- According to the 2010 United States Census, Elster is the 39555th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 556 individuals. Elster is most common among White (91.19%) individuals.
Further reading edit
- Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Elster”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 1, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 524.
German edit
Etymology edit
From Middle High German elster, alster, agelster, from Old High German agalstra, from Proto-West Germanic *agastrijā (“magpie”).
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
Elster f (genitive Elster, plural Elstern)
- magpie
- "Die diebische Elster" ― "The Thieving Magpie" (Opera by Rossini)
Usage notes edit
- In the folklore of German-speaking Europe (as well as many other parts of Europe), the magpie is accused of being in the habit of stealing small objects such as jewellery, coins, etc. Therefore the bird is often called diebische Elster (“thieving magpie”), and this epithet is also used jocularly to describe someone who takes or borrows things without asking.
Declension edit
Declension of Elster [feminine]
Related terms edit
Further reading edit
- “Elster” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache