Wams
German edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Middle High German wambes, wambeis, from Old French wambais, from Medieval Latin wambāsium, bambāsium. This is predominantly considered a derivative of Frankish *wamba, from Proto-Germanic *wambō (“belly, womb”), making Wams a doublet of Wamme (“dewlap”) and Wampe (“potbelly, paunch”). Alternative etymology derives it from Latin bambax (“coton”), from Ancient Greek πάμβαξ (pámbax), in which case, however, the Romance w- is difficult to explain. More at gambeson.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
Wams n (strong, genitive Wamses, plural Wämser, diminutive Wämschen n)
Usage notes edit
- In obsolete usage this could also be masculine, especially in northern and central Germany, with plural Wämse.
Declension edit
Declension of Wams [neuter, strong]
Descendants edit
- → Saterland Frisian: Wams
References edit
- “Wams” in Duden online
- “Wams” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.