German edit

 
ein Schreibtisch
 
Spanish vargueño desk
 
Augsburg Kabinettschrank with drawers

Etymology edit

From schreiben (to write) +‎ Tisch (table). Equivalent to Luxembourgish Schreifdësch, Hunsrik Schreibdisch. Both components are ultimately from Latin.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈʃʁaɪ̯pˌtɪʃ/
  • (file)
  • (file)

Noun edit

Schreibtisch m (strong, genitive Schreibtisches or Schreibtischs, plural Schreibtische)

  1. desk, cabinet (any table, frame, or case for the use of writers and readers; also a place for storing the papers)

Usage notes edit

  • The term schreibtisch was used in 16th and 17th century for cabinets (in german Kabinett or Kabinettschrank). This naming comes from original purpose of cabinets used for writing and storing the papers, so called Bargueño desks). These cabinets were often provided with an openable front panel, used for writing, which hides several drawers for storing the papers or utentils inside. Bargueño desks were copied in other parts of Europe and produced in several forms. Many of them were not even equipped with the writing desk, however the term schreibtisch was used for them.

Declension edit

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

  • Schreibtisch” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • Schreibtisch” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
  • Schreibtisch” in Duden online
  •   Schreibtisch on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia de
  • Spenle, Virginie (2011) “Der Kabinettschrank und seine Bedeutung für die Kunst- und Wunderkammer des 17. Jahrhunderts”, in Möbel als Medien. Beiträge zu einer Kulturgeschichte der Dinge, Bielefeld: Transcript Verlag, pages 69-83