Schnapphahn

German

Etymology

From Late Middle High German snaphan (15th c., “a mounted highwayman, especially an impoverished knight”). By surface analysis, schnappen (“to snap, snatch”) +‎ Hahn (“cock, rooster”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈʃnapˌhaːn/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

Schnapphahn m (strong, genitive Schnapphahns or Schnapphahnes, plural Schnapphähne)

  1. (historical, otherwise archaic) highwayman, waylayer, mugger, footpad
    Synonyms: Straßenräuber, Strauchdieb, Wegelagerer

Declension

Declension of Schnapphahn [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Schnapphahn die Schnapphähne
genitive eines des Schnapphahns, Schnapphahnes der Schnapphähne
dative einem dem Schnapphahn, Schnapphahne1 den Schnapphähnen
accusative einen den Schnapphahn die Schnapphähne

1Now rare, see notes.

Descendants

  • → Dutch: snaphaan (see there for further descendants)
  • → French: chenapan (see there for further descendants)
  • → Swedish: snapphane

Further reading

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