LL-L 'Etymology' 2007.01.15 (01) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 15 January 2007 - Volume 01

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From: Leslie Decker <leslie at familydecker.org>
Subject: LL-L Etymology

My friends and I were playing the game Munchkin this evening, which is a
sort of spoof on role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons.  The
cards are quite funny, and I was explaining to them (who are German and
Mexican) what some of the puns and cultural references meant (ex: Rapier
Twit, The Shadow Nose, etc.).  At one point one of them asked me what
exactly a munchkin was.  While explaining it to them, I couldn't help
wondering what the etymology of the word is.  The -kin part is clear,
but 'munch?'  It's obviously not to do with eating anything, and to me
it's way to close to 'Mensch' to discount.

A quick google search only related it to the Wizard of Oz, and I can't
access the OED online anymore since I'm no longer a student, so I'm
asking people here for their ideas, opinions, and research to answer the
question of the background of the word.

Yiddish, perhaps?

Groetjes,
Leslie

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