Schnick Schnack Schnuck

German

Alternative forms

Schnick, Schnack, Schnuck; Schnick-Schnack-Schnuck; Schnickschnackschnuck
The interjection may also be lowercase.

Etymology

Probably from schnicken, variant of schnippen (“to flip one’s fingers”). The i-a-u ablaut is very common in German (and beyond); cf. tri-tra-trullala etc. Perhaps also influenced by Schnickschnack.

Noun

Schnick Schnack Schnuck n

(regional, including western Germany) rock paper scissors (game)
Synonyms: Schere, Stein, Papier; (northern Germany) Sching Schang Schong

Interjection

Schnick! Schnack! Schnuck!

Used as a start signal during the above game; on Schnuck! both players show their gestures.