LL-L "Etymology" 2008.11.21 (03) [E/LS]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 21 November 2008 - Volume 03
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From: heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk <heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2008.11.21 (02) [E]

Reinhard/Ron wrote  And here comes my own hypothesis that *Quiddje* (*kwidje
~ kwitje*) came from Dutch *kwijt* (dialectal and Western Low Saxon *kwiet*)
in the sense of 'unable to function' and 'helpless'.

Definitely  a *Quiddje * of Wichenford then!

..... after an afternoon's gardening!

Heather

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From: Marcus Buck <list at marcusbuck.org>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2008.11.21 (02) [E]

From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com <mailto:sassisch at yahoo.com>>



Subject: Etymology

A /Quiddje/ (~ /Quittje /~ /Quietje/) is someone who is not originally from
Northern Germany, usually specifically from Hamburg or from the coast, is
not very familiar with local culture and does not know Low Saxon or
Missingsch. It is also used to refer to a newbie or greenhorn among ships'
crews, someone that doesn't yet know the routines and doesn't have all the
necessary skills.

According to the German Wikipedia (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiddje),
the origin of the word is obscure. Some believe it comes from French
/quitté/ used in connection with merchants' passes at (Hamburg's) city
gates.

I can't help wondering if the word /Quiddje/ (/kwidje ~ kwitje/) is of Dutch
origin like other Low Saxon words of Northern Germany that end with
diminuitve –/je/ (such as /Buttje/, /Bontje/ and /Mattjes/). And here comes
my own hypothesis that /Quiddje/ (/kwidje ~ kwitje/) came from Dutch /kwijt/
(dialectal and Western Low Saxon /kwiet/) in the sense of 'unable to
function' and 'helpless'. Doesn't this make sense? I think I'll add it to
the Wikipedia article with reference to this posting in our archive.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

Dat is egentlich gegen de Wikipedia-Regeln: <
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Keine_Theoriefindung

>. De Theorie is ok nich besünners wohrschienlich, denn twischen /"kwijt"
/un "/Quiddje"/ fehlt de Form /"kwijtje"/, de dat op Nedderlandsch nich
gifft.

Marcus Buck
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