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Schlafittchen
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
German
Etymology
18th century, but probably older. Generally explained as a reinterpretation (as a diminutive) of de Schlafittichen, dative plural of obsolete de Schlafittich, itself from an underlying de *Schlagfittich, from de schlagen to strike, thrash Fittich wing of a bird, from the way a bird is grabbed by its thrashing wings. This requires that the word is of Central or de nds - origin and that southern forms like de Schlafittel are later adaptations.
Pronunciation
de /ʃlaˈfɪtçən/ prescriptive standard
de /ʃlaˈvɪtçən/ commoner, at least in northern and central Germany
de De-Schlafittchen.ogg <<Germany>> (<<Berlin>>)
Noun
n
de informal something on someone’s back by which they are grabbed in order to push or pull them: the collar, the hem of the jacket, the scruff of the neck
de Er packte den Betrunkenen am Schlafittchen und warf ihn raus. He grabbed the drunk man by his collar / by the scruff of his neck and threw him out.
Declension
n
de diminutiva tantum