LL-L: "Etymology" LOWLANDS-L, 10.DEC.1999 (01) [E]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 10.DEC.1999 (01) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: R. F. Hahn [sassisch at yahoo.com]
Subject: Etymology

Dear Lowlanders,

Does any of you know the etymology of the Low Saxon (Low German) noun
_Pracher_ (spelled _Pracha_ in Mennonite Low Saxon)?  Its meaning is
'poor/destitute person', 'beggar', 'vagabond'.

There must be a verb root /prach-/ somewhere, but it does not seem to have
survived in the language.

Modern Low Saxon derivations from _Pracher_ are the following:

_pracherig_ 'poor', 'destitute'
_prachern_ 'to beg', 'to panhandle' (also used to refer to children's
insistent pestering)
_Pracherpack_ 'bunch of beggars/vagabonds/bums', 'riff-raff'
_Prachervolk_ 'community of destitute people'
_Prachervaagt_ 'security officer assigned to dealing with the poor' (in
earlier times)

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Reinhard/Ron

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