German

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Pferd (horse) +‎ Kuss (kiss). Derived from the dated humorous idiomatic expression vom Pferd geküsst werden (literally to get kissed by a horse), which first applied the sense of "to get bitten by a horse", then also of "to get kicked by a horse".

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [ˈp͡feːɐ̯dəˌkʊs]
  • IPA(key): [ˈp͡fɛʁdəˌkʊs] (common in East Central Germany, South Western Germany, Western Austria, Switzerland; elsewhere rare)[1]
  • Hyphenation: Pfer‧de‧kuss
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

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Pferdekuss m (strong, genitive Pferdekusses, plural Pferdeküsse)

  1. (colloquial) a short, powerful kick (with the knee) to someone’s thigh
    jemandem einen Pferdekuss geben, einen Pferdekuss bekommen/kriegen
    to give someone a thigh knock, to receive a thigh knock
    • 2013 July 11, Cathrin Gilbert (interviewer), Hanns-Bruno Kammertöns (interviewer), Dirk Nowitzki (interviewee), Manuel Neuer (interviewee), “O Gott! Manuel Neuer! Das kann peinlich werden…”, in Die Zeit[1], number 23:
      Nowitzki: Wir trainieren uns ein anderes Schmerzempfinden an als Normalsterbliche, das stimmt schon. Ich kriege zum Beispiel unzählige Pferdeküsse, Tritte des Gegners mit dem Knie.
      Nowitzki: We develop a different kind of sensation of pain than normal mortals, that’s true. For example, I receive countless thigh knocks, kicks of the opponent with the knee.
  2. (colloquial) contusion, swelling caused by a short, powerful kick (with the knee) to someone’s thigh
    sich (bei etwas) einen Pferdekuss zuziehen
    to develop a contusion, swelling caused by a thigh knock

Declension

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Cf. “Pferd” in Stefan Kleiner, Ralf Knöbl and Dudenredaktion (2015) Duden Aussprachewörterbuch (in German), 7th, completely revised and updated edition, Berlin: Dudenverlag, →ISBN, page 678.

Further reading

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