German

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Etymology

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From Rotwelsch, first attested in 1835 as Kolldampf. Tautological compound of Kohler, Koller (hunger) + Dampf (hunger, literally steam). Not related to Russian голод (golod, hunger), German Kohl (cabbage).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈkoːlˌdamp͡f/
  • Hyphenation: Kohldampf
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

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Kohldampf m (strong, genitive Kohldampfes or Kohldampfs, plural (rare, possibly nonstandard) Kohldämpfe)

  1. (informal) ravenous hunger
    Synonyms: Bärenhunger, Mordshunger, Schmacht

Declension

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Further reading

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