Knilch

German

Alternative forms
  • Knülch (archaic)

Etymology

Ca. 1900, of uncertain origin. The two main theories are:

  • From the adjective knollig (“bulbous”, archaically “ruff, boorish”). Also attested with umlaut as knöllicht.
  • From Central Franconian Knünich (“canon, kind of clergyman”, figuratively “withdrawn, somber person”), from Old High German canunih (12th c.), from Latin canonicus. A form with /l/ appears to be unattested in the dialects, but is easily explained through dissimilation.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /knɪlç/
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Knilch m (strong, genitive Knilches or Knilchs, plural Knilche) (colloquial, chiefly northern and central Germany)

  1. (dated) an unpleasant or mean-spirited man
  2. (now usually) a flippant word for a male person, vaguely negative, but not associated with any particular qualities

Declension
Declension of Knilch [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Knilch die Knilche
genitive eines des Knilches, Knilchs der Knilche
dative einem dem Knilch, Knilche1 den Knilchen
accusative einen den Knilch die Knilche

1Now rare, see notes.

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