Yiddish in UK English (anecdotal)

[Cohen, Gerald Leonard]

The longer article is:
"Etymology of Yiddish Shmok" ("Sh" here = "s" with a hacek; -- The article reproduces all Comments on Etymology treatments of the term to date; individual authors are listed in the table of contents), Comments on Etymology, vol. 12, no. 11-12, March 1983, 73 pages.

Gerald Cohen

> ----------
> From:         American Dialect Society on behalf of Cohen, Gerald Leonard
> Reply To:     American Dialect Society
> Sent:         Sunday, October 21, 2007 8:08 PM
> To:   ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject:           Re: Yiddish in UK English (anecdotal)
>
> The derivation of Yiddish anatomical shmuck (actually: shmok) from  German Schmuck (= jewelry, decoration, embellishment) is false.  I have the relevant articles in my office, but meanwhile, IIRC, Yiddish shmok derives from a Slavic word indicating a snake or snake-like creature.  My bibliographical notes at home contain the following references, all from Comments on Etymology:
>
> 1) Gerald Cohen (title: ?), vol. 13, #5-6, Dec. 1983, pp. 12-13.
> 2) J. Peter Maher (letter), vol. 13, no. 11-12, March 1984, pp. 7-9.
> 3) Joseph Walfield (article title: ?), vol. 14, issues # 11-12, March 1985, p. 7.
> 4). 'Yiddish "shmok" (= English "shmuck") revisited.' ----- vol. 22,  #2 (Nov. 1992), pp. 20- 22. Contains:
>    a) Reprint of article by "Philologos" in _The Forward_, July 24, 1992: 'Snakes in the Grass.' (pp. 20-21).
>    b.) Joseph Wallfield: '"Shmuck" --- again.' (p.22)
>
> Also, I seem to remember another, longer item, on the subject--probably written by my deceased friend and colleague, Joseph Wallfield. If it's of any interest, I can check this when I'm back in my office.
>
> Gerald Cohen
>
> ________________________________
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