שמאָק

Yiddish

Etymology

Uncertain. Possibly from Old Polish smok (“dragon”). Alternatively from the verb Middle High German smucken, archaic German schmucken, which has several meanings respectively allowing different semantic connections: “to squeeze, press, fit into something tight”; “to hug, snuggle, kiss”; “to adorn, decorate”. (The last of these senses is less likely, but compare German Schmuck (“jewellery”) and English crown jewels.)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ʃmɔk/

Noun

שמאָק • (shmok) m, plural שמעק (shmek), diminutive שמעקל (shmekl)

(offensive, derogatory) idiot
(offensive, derogatory) dick (a contemptible person)
(offensive) dupe (a naive person)
(offensive, vulgar, anatomy) penis
Synonyms: שלאַנג (shlang), פּאָץ (pots), שוואַנץ (shvants)

Descendants

→ English: schmuck
→ German: Schmock
→ Russian: чмо n (čmo)