Schmalz

See also: schmalz

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃmal(t)s/, [ʃmalt͡s]

Etymology 1

From Middle High German smalz, from Old High German smalz, from Proto-West Germanic *smalt (“(molten) fat, lard”), an ablaut derivative of *smeltaną. Doublet of Emaille. The figurative sense in part as a backformation from schmalzig.

Noun

Schmalz n or m (strong, genitive Schmalzes, plural Schmalze)

1. (usually uncountable) grease, lard
2. (derogatory) schmaltz (something cheesy or excessively sentimental, e.g., music), corniness
3. (Austria) imprisonment for illegal activity
4. (Vienna) english (spin imparted on a billiard ball by hitting it on the side)

Usage notes

• The word is originally and predominantly a neuter. Alternative masculine use is common in the sense “schmaltz, corniness”, but is also met with in the literal sense.

Declension

Declension of Schmalz [neuter // masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	das, der	Schmalz	die	Schmalze
genitive	eines	des	Schmalzes	der	Schmalze
dative	einem	dem	Schmalz, Schmalze1	den	Schmalzen
accusative	ein, einen	das, den	Schmalz	die	Schmalze

¹Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

• Armschmalz
• Bauchschmalz
• Butterschmalz
• Eierschmalz
• Entenschmalz
• Gänseschmalz
• Gehirnschmalz
• Grammelschmalz
• Griebenschmalz
• Hirnschmalz
• Knochenschmalz
• Muskelschmalz
• Ohrenschmalz
• Rindsschmalz
• Schmalzabweiser
• Schmalzblume
• Schmalzbrot
• Schmalzbutter
• Schmalzfleisch
• Schmalzgebäck
• Schmalzgebackenes
• schmalzig
• Schmalzkopf
• Schmalzküchel
• Schmalzlocke
• Schmalznudel
• Schmalznuss
• Schmalznuß
• Schmalzöl
• Schmalzpfropfen
• Schmalzrübe
• Schmalzstearin
• Schmalzstulle
• Schmalztolle
• Schmalztopf
• Schweineschmalz
• Taubenschmalz

 

Related terms

• schmalzen
• Schmalzler
• schmälzen

Etymology 2

Attested in the 13th century in Schleswig-Holstein, thought to derive from Middle Low German smal (“small”), from Proto-Germanic *smalaz. Compare the English surname Small, Smalls.

Alternative forms

• Schmahl, Schmal, Schmall, Schmaltz

Proper noun

Schmalz m or f (proper noun, strong, genitive Schmalz' or Schmalzens or (with an article) Schmalz, plural Schmalz or Schmalzens)

1. a surname — famously held by:
   1. Valentin Schmalz (1572–1622), German Socinian theologian

Declension

Declension of Schmalz [masculine // feminine, surname]

	singular						plural
	masculine			feminine
	indef.	def.	noun	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	(ein)	(der)	Schmalz	(eine)	(die)	Schmalz	(die)	Schmalz, Schmalzes, Schmalzens
genitive	(eines)	(des)	Schmalz', Schmalz1	(einer)	(der)	Schmalz	(der)	Schmalz, Schmalzes, Schmalzens
dative	(einem)	(dem)	Schmalz	(einer)	(der)	Schmalz	(den)	Schmalz, Schmalzes, Schmalzens
accusative	(einen)	(den)	Schmalz	(eine)	(die)	Schmalz	(die)	Schmalz, Schmalzes, Schmalzens

¹With an article.

Related terms

• schmal

References

• “Schmalz Family Crest and Name History” excerpted from the www.HouseOfNames.com archives (14 June 2013 revision)

Luxembourgish

Etymology

From the Middle High German smalz, from the Old High German smalz, from the Proto-West Germanic *smalt (“(molten) fat, lard”), an ablaut derivative of *smeltaną.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃmɑlt͡s/

Noun

Schmalz n (uncountable)

1. lard, grease

Derived terms

• Ouereschmalz