Part 4
_BOSS DICH!_ hold thy tongue!
_BOSSHART_, meat. The _Hebrew_, BÁSAR, signifies flesh.
_BOSSHART-VETZER_, a butcher. _Hebrew._
_BREGEN_, to beg. Both this and the following are probably corruptions of the _German_, PREDIGEN, to pray, to preach; or they may have come from the _Old German_, BRACHER, a pauper. Possibly, however, they are nothing more than corruptions of BEGHARD, the name given to a low order of friars before the Reformation. These professed poverty, and lived on alms. Their orthodoxy and morality were doubtful. In general they were denounced by the ecclesiastical authorities. _See_ Mosheim, _de_ BEGHARDIS _et Beguinis_. The term evidently comes from the _Saxon_, BEGGEN, mendicare; and HARD, or HART, a servant.
_BREGER_, a beggar.
_BREITHART_, far, wide,—BREIT here being equivalent to broad, or wide; and HART, to very, or exceedingly.
_BREITFUSS_, a goose, or duck,—literally, a “broad-foot.”
_BRESEM_, BRÜCH, to break. The _Old German_, BRUCH, signifies _fractura_, _ruptura_; _femoralia_; _locus palustris_; _infractio legis_. The _Modern German_, BRUCH, refers to a breach or rupture in a person, especially a breakage caused by violence.
_BRIEF_, a playing card. _German_, BRIEF, a letter.
_BRIEFELVETZER_, a clerk. _Vide_ FETZEN.
_BRIEFEN_, to play at cards.
_BRISSEN_, to denounce.
_BRÜSS_, a leper.
_BSAFFOT_, a letter, a cipher. The _German_, ZIFFER, signifies a cipher, and probably comes from the _Arabic_ or _Hebrew_,—SÉPHER in the latter being equivalent to writing, a writing, or whatever is written in a book.
_BSCHIDERICH_, a magistrate. Probably this term, together with the following, were merely vulgar adaptations of the _German_, BESCHEIDEN, to appoint, to be discreet. The _Old German_, BESCHEID-RIK, might be translated as “powerful in decision,” and BESCHEIDRUOM, “renowned for discretion or modesty.”
_BSCHUDERULM_, nobility.
_BÜTZELMAN_, ZAGEL. The _German_, ZAGEL, is a provincial word, and signifies a tail. _See_ SCHEISS.
_DALLINGER_, a hangman. Probably a corruption of GALGENER,—from the _German_, GALGEN, a gallows, or gibbet.
_DERLING_, a die (plural _dice_).
_DIERLING_, the eye. Possibly a diminutive of the _German_, THÜR, a door, or entrance,—not inappropriately applied to the eye, as the little door out of which all things are seen.
_DIERN_, to see.
_DIFTEL_, a church. Probably a corruption of the _German_, STIFTEL,—a diminutive of STIFT, a cathedral. STIFTUNG is a foundation, establishment; STIFTER, a founder.
_DIPPEN_, to give. _German_, GEBEN.
_DOLMAN_, the gallows. The _German_, DOLMAN, properly signifies a pelisse,—the tight-fitting nature of which may have given rise to the cant application to a gallows.
_DOTSCH_, _vulva_. Supposed by some to be from the _German_, TASCHE, a pocket. The _Bavarian_ words DOTSCH, DOST, DOSTEN, however, still signify _vulva_.
_DOUL_ (_i. e._ DÖEL,—DAUL), a penny. The fourth part of a BLECHLEIN, or kreuzer.
_DRITLING_, a shoe. From the _Old German_, TRITLING, a footstool, a bench,—a diminutive of TRITT, _gradus_, _passus incessus_, _cursus pedestris_. TRETTEN is _omnes pedum motus_, from the _Celtic_, TRUD; _Ancient British_, TROED,—so that it seems very probable that TRITLING, or DRITLING, may have meant a little treader, or shoe.
_DÜ EIN HAR_, FLEUCH.
_EMS_, good. The _German_, EMSIG, is assiduous; DIE EMSIGE BIENE, the busy bee. It seems to come from the _Old German_, EMMAZZIG, for UNMUAZIG, _occupatus et minime otiosus_. After the same fashion is derived the _French_, A-MUSER.
_ERFERKEN_ (ERSECKEN?), RETSCHEN.
_ERLAT_, the master. The _Welch_, HERLOD, is a stripling, lad; HERLODES, a damsel, girl. It is supposed that the word “harlot,” which originally signified a bold stripling, is from this. Chaucer says:—
A sturdie _harlot_—that was her hostes man, He was a gentil _harlot_, and a kind.
If ERLAT is from the _German_, it would be from HERRLAUT, a distinguished lord, a master.
_ERLATIN_, the mistress.
_FELING_, a grocery, or general store; a grocer’s wife.
_FETZEN_, or VETZEN, to work, to make. _Latin_, FACERE. The _German_, FETZEN, signifies a piece, or slice.
_FLADER_, a bath-room, a barber’s shop.
_FLADER-FETZER_, a barber.
_FLADER-FETZERIN_, a barber’s wife.
_FLICK_, KNAB. _Hilpert_ refers to FLÜGGE, unfledged.
_FLOSS_, soup. From the _German_, _FLOSS_, a stream; FLOSSEN, to flow.
_FLOSSART_, water.
_FLÖSSELT_, drowned. Previous to the time of Luther, beggars were drowned when caught stealing. _Vide_ Gengenbach.
_FLÖSSLEN_, to make water.
_FLÖSSLING_, a fish. _German_, FLOSSE, a fin.
_FLUCKART_, poultry, birds. From the _German_, FLIEGEN, to fly; literally, “fly-hard,” or “fast-flyer.”
_FUNKART_, fire. _German_, FUNKE, a spark.
_FUNKARTHOLE_, an earthenware stove.
_FÜNKELN_, to boil, cook, roast.
_GACKENSCHERR_, a chicken. _German_, GACKERN, to cackle; SCHARREN, to scratch.
_GALCH_, a parson, priest. The _Old German_, GALL, is _castratus_; the same with GELDE,—whence GOL, GEL, sterile. The _German_, KELCH, is a chalice, the communion cup. GALCH may be, however, simply an extension of GALLE.
_GALCHENBOSS_, a parsonage.
_GALLE_, a parson. _Hebrew_, KÁHAL, a priest.
_GALLEN_, a town.
_GANHART_, the devil.
_GATZAM_, a child. _Hebrew_, GATAM, said to be derived from an _Arabic_ word, signifying any one puny or thin. Or from the _German_, KÄTZCHEN, a little cat, a kitten.
_GEBICKEN_, to catch.
_GENFEN_, or JENFEN, to steal.
_GFAR_, a village. _Hebrew_, CHÁFÁR, a village, hamlet.
_GIEL_, the mouth.
_GITZLIN_, a morsel of bread.
_GLATHART_, a table. _German_, GLATT, smooth.
_GLENZ_, a field.
_GLESTERICH_, glass. _German_, GLITZERN, to glitter.
_GLID_ (_i.e._ GLEID), a harlot.
_GLIDENBOSS_, a brothel.
_GLIDENFETZERIN_, a frequenter of brothels.
_GLISS_, milk.
_GOFFEN_, SCHLAHEN.
_GRIFFLING_, a finger. _German_, GREIFEN, to grasp.
_GRIN_ (_i.e._ GRYM[19]), food.
_GRUNHART_, a field, _i.e._ very green, or green-like.
_GUGELFRANZ_, a monk.
_GUGELFRENZIN_, a nun.
_GURGELN_, LANTSKNECHTBETLIN, _i.e._ GURGELN LANTSKNECHT, would seem to refer to a begging foot-soldier.
_HANFSTAUD_, a shirt,—literally “hemp-shrub.”
_HANS WALTER_, a louse. HANZ literally means Jack or John. The old word HANSA refers to a multitude; _Old German_, HANSE, a society; HANS, a companion.
_HANS VON GELLER_, coarse bread.
_HAR_, FLEUCH.
_HANZ_, a peasant. _See_ HANS WALTER.
_HANZIN_, a peasant’s wife.
_HEGIS_, a hospital. The _Old German_, HAG, is a house (from HAGEN to hedge in, inclose), _quasi locus septus habitandi causa_. The _Old German_, HEGEN, is to nourish, feed, to receive into one’s house and company. The _Su. Goth._ HÆGA, is to serve.
_HELLERICHTIGER_, a florin.
_HERTERICH_, a knife or dagger.
_HIMMELSTEIG_, the Lord’s Prayer,—literally, “Heaven’s steps.”
_HOCKEN_, to sit, to lie.
_HOLDERKAUZ_, a hen.
_HORK_, a peasant.
_HORNBOCK_, a cow.
_ILTIS_, a constable, town sergeant. The _Modern German_, ILTISS, or ILTIS, signifies a pole-cat, fitchet; and ILTISFALLE is a trap for catching pole-cats,—or, as Dr. Johnson calls them, “stinking beasts.” The _Icelandic_, ILLTUR, is _malus_; and the _Cymrie_, YLLTYR, is _talpa_, a mole.
_JOHAM_, wine. From the _Hebrew_, YAH’-YIN, wine. Gengenbach renders this JOHIN.
_JONEN_, to play,—at cards, or other game of chance. _French_, JOUER?
_JONER_, a player, a gambler.
_JUFFART_, DER DA ROT IST ODER FREIHEIT.
_JUVERBASSEN_, to swear.
_KABAS_, a head. _Latin_, caput.
_KAFFRIM_ (JACOBSBRÜDER), a pilgrim to the grave of St. James.
_KAMMESIERER_, a learned beggar.
_CAVAL_, a horse. _Latin_, CABALLUS.
_CAVELLER_, a slayer, a butcher. _Modern German_, KAFILLER.
_KERIS_, wine. _Modern German_, XERESWEIN, sherry;
or, from KIRSCHE, a cherry,—KIRSCHEN-WASSER, cherry-water.
_CHRISTIAN_ (JACOBSBRÜDER), a pilgrim to the grave of St. James.
_KIELAM_, a town.
_KIMMERN_, to buy. _German_, KRAMEN, to trade.
_CLAFFOT_, a dress, a cloak. In Gengenbach’s metrical version of the _Liber Vagatorum_, this is rendered KLABOT, Clothes.
_CLAFFOT-FETZER_, a tailor.
_KLEBIS_, a horse,—literally, “a clover-biter.”
_KLEMS_, punishment, imprisonment. The _German_, KLEMMEN, signifies to pinch.
_KLEMSEN_, to arrest, imprison.
_KLENKSTEIN_, a traitor.
_KLINGEN_, LEIER;—perhaps one who plays upon a lyre, from the _German_, KLINGEN, to sound, KLINGELN, to tinkle.
_KLINGENFETZERIN_, LEIERIN,—probably a female player upon the lyre.
_KRACKLING_, a nut. From the _German_, KRACHEN, to crack.
_KRAX_, a cloister.
_KRÖNER_, a husband. From the _German_, KRONEN, to crown, to appoint as head or principal.
_KRÖNERIN_, a wife.
_LEFRANZ_, a priest.
_LEFRENZIN_, a priest’s harlot.
_LEHEM_, bread. _Hebrew_. A contemporary of Luther, Gengenbach, spells the word LEM.
_LINDRUNSCHEL_, corn-gatherers.
_LISS-MARKT_, the head,—literally, “the louse market.”
_LÖE_, bad, false. From _Belgian_, LOH, _Danish_, LAAG, low; _Saxon_, LOH, a pit, or gulf.
_LÖE ÖTLIN_, the devil,—literally, “the wicked gentleman.”
_LÜSSLING_, the ear. _Old German_, LOSEN, or LUSEN, to listen. Beggars formerly had their ears cut off when detected stealing.
_MACKUM_, the town.
_MEGEN_ (or MENGEN), to drown.
_MENG_, KESSLER.
_MENKLEN_, to eat.
_MESS_, money, coin. The _German_, MESSING, signifies brass.
_MOLSAMER_, a traitor.
_NARUNG-TÜN_, to seek, or look out for food. _German_, NAHRUNG, livelihood; THUN, to do, make.
_PFLÜGER_, an alms-gatherer in churches.
_PLATSCHEN_, to go about preaching.
_PLATSCHIERER_, a preacher,—from tubs, &c.
_PLICKSCHLAHER_, a naked person.
_POLENDER_, a castle, a fort. Perhaps connected with the _German_, BOLL, BOLLIG, hard, stiff; BOLLWARK, a bastion, bulwark.
_QUIEN_, a dog. _Latin_, CANIS.
_QUIENGOFFER_, a dog-killer?
_RANZ_, a sack, pouch. _German_, RANZEN.
_RAULING_, a baby.
_RAUSCHART_, a straw matress. _German_, RAUSCHEN, to rustle.
_REEL_, St. Vitus’ Dance.
_REGEL_ (or REGER), a die (plural _dice_). From the _German_, REGEN, to move?
_REGENWURM_, a sausage,—literally, “a rainworm.”
_RIBLING_, dice.
_RICHTIG_, just.
_RIELING_, a pig.
_RIPPART_, SECKEL.
_ROL_, a mill. _German_, ROLLEN, to roll.
_ROLVETZER_, a miller.
_ROTBOSS_, a beggar’s house of call, beggar’s home.
_RÜBOLT_, freedom.
_RÜREN_, to play. _German_, RUHREN, to touch, rattle.
_RUMPFLING_ (or RUMPFFING), mustard. From the _German_, RÜMPFEN, to wriggle?
_RUNZEN_, to cheat in dealing cards, gambling, &c.
_SCHEISS_ (SCHIESS), ZAGEL,—a tail. _German_, SCHEISSE, excrement, dung; SCHEISSEN, to dung (imperative, SCHEISS); SCHIESSEN, to shoot, dart (imperative, SCHIESS). _Old German_, SCHIESSEN, _labi_, _præscipitari_, _celeriter moveri_. _See_ BÜTZELMAN.
_SCHLING_, flax, linen. _German_, SCHLINGEN, to entwine.
_SCHLUN_, SCHAFFEN,—to cause, get, make, procure, or produce anything.
_SCHMALKACHEL_, a slanderer. _German_, KACHEL, a pot,—literally, “a slandering-pot.”
_SCHMALN_, to slander. _Modern German_, SCHMÄLEN.
_SCHMUNK_, melted butter.
_SCHNIEREN_, to hang. _German_, SCHNUR, a string.
_SCHÖCHERN_, to drink. _Modern German_, SCHENKEN, to fill, retail liquor; SCHENKE, a drinking-house, ale-house; SCHENKWIRTH, a beer-draper.
_SCHÖCHERVETZER_, an innkeeper.
_SCHOSA_, _vulva_. This is supposed to be from the _Silesian_, DIE SCHOOS, the lap; _Bavarian_, GSCHOSL.
_SCHREF_, a harlot.
_SCHREFENBOSS_, a house of ill fame.
_SCHREILING_, a child,—diminutive formed from SCHREIEN, to cry.
_SCHRENZ_, a room.
_SCHÜRNBRANT_, beer.
_SCHWENZEN_, to go.
_SCHWERZ_, night. _German_, SCHWARZ, black.
_SEFEL_, dirt. _Hebrew_, SHÁFÁR, humble, mean?
_SEFELBOSS_, a house of office, dirt-house.
_SEFELN_, to evacuate.
_SENFTRICH_, a bed. _German_, SANFT, soft.
_SONNENBOSS_, a brothel.
_SONZ_, a nobleman, gentleman.
_SONZIN_, a lady.
_SPELTING_, a heller,—the smallest coin.
_SPITZLING_, oats. _Modern German_, SPITZLING, oat-grass; SPITZE, the point of anything; SPITZ, pointed, peaked. The term appears to be a diminutive.
_SPRANKART_, salt. _German_, SPRENKELN, to scatter.
_STABULER_, a bread-gatherer.
_STEFUNG_, ZIL. _Old German_, ZIL, is _finis_, _limes_, _terminus temporis et loci_; also _meta jaculantis_, _scopus agentis_, _terminus oculi et mentis_.
_STETTINGER_, a florin,—perhaps one minted at Stettin.
_STOLFEN_, to stand.
_STREIFLING_, trousers. _German_, STREIFEN, to strip.
_STROBORER_, a goose,—literally, “a straw-borer.”
_STROM_, a brothel. Possibly an allusion to STRUMMEL, the _Old English Cant_ for straw, with which houses of this description may have been littered. The cant expression, STRUMMEL, was probably introduced into this country by the gipsies and other vagabonds from the Continent, in the reign of Henry VIII.
_STROMBART_, a forest.
_STUPART_, flour. _Old German_, STOPPEL, _cauda frumenti_, from the _Latin_, STIPULA.
_TERICH_, the land, or country. _Latin_, TERRA.
_VERKIMMERN_, to sell. _See_ KIMMERN.
_VERLUNSCHEN_, VERSTEEN.
_VERMONEN_, to cheat.
_VERSENKEN_, to pawn,—literally, “to sink.”
_VOPPART_, a fool. _Modern German_, FOPPEN, to mock.
_VOPPEN_, to lie, tell falsehoods.
_WENDERICH_, cheese.
_WETTERHAN_, a hat,—literally, “a weathercock.”
_WINTFANG_, a cloak,—literally, “a wind-catcher.”
_WISSULM_, silly people.
_WUNNENBERG_, a pretty young woman. _German_, WONNE, pleasure.
_ZICKUS_, a blind man. _Latin_, CÆCUS.
_ZWENGERING_, a jacket. _German_, ZWÄNGEN, to force.
_ZWICKER_, a hangman. _German_, ZWICKEN, to pinch.
_ZWIRLING_, an eye.
NOTHING WITHOUT REASON.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] _Taschenbuch für Geschichte und Alterthum in Sud-Deutschland, von Heinrich Schreiber_, Fribourg, 1839, p. 333. The Basle MSS. are here reprinted without any alteration.
[2] These Trials are also recorded in an old MS. of _Hieron. Wilh. Ebner_, printed in _Joh. Heumanni Exercitationes iuris universi_, vol. I. (Altdorfi, 1749, 4^o.) No. XIII. Observatio de lingua occulta, pp. 174-180. Both Knebel and Ebner’s accounts differ merely in style and dialect; in all essential points they closely harmonize.
[3] Brant wrote this work, and superintended its progress through the press whilst residing in this city.
[4] This printer carried on business at Augsburg, partly alone, partly in connection with others, from 1505 to 1516. His editions of the _Liber Vagatorum_ would seem therefore to have been printed between the years 1512-16.
[5] Published at Wittemberg.
[6] The title-page of this edition is adorned with a facsimile of the woodcut which occurs in Öglin’s edition,—the same, indeed, which is given in this translation.
[7] _D’Aubigné, Hist. Ref._ vol. iv. p. 10 (1853).
[8] Consisting of nine leaves only. An edition appeared in 1603, and a reprint of the first edition was published in Westminster in 1813 (8^{vo}).
[9] See page 21.
[10] Page 47.
[11] Literally “prisoners _let-loose_.”
[12] Debissern.
[13] In the original BILTREGERIN (_Bildtragerin_), _i.e._ Billet-wearers.
[14] BEULEN, bumps, or protuberances?
[15] ÜBERN SÖNZEN GANGER.
[16] GENSSCHERER, _i. e._ gansscherer.
[17] In the original KOT, i. e. _kat_.
[18] On this passage _Luther_ remarks:—“But now it is all over with these too!”
[19] “Güt _und_ greym,” güt.
CHISWICK PRESS:—PRINTED BY WHITTINGHAM AND WILKINS, TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Book of Vagabonds and Beggars, by Anonymous