Schmear

Schmear is a word of Germanic origin, equivalent to 'smear' or 'spread' (usually fat or butter). In some Germanic languages, the cognate of smear itself means butter.

The use and spelling of schmear or shmear in American English is a direct loanword from Yiddish, where its original usage referred to cheese.[1] In modern usage it has extended to anything that can be spread, such as cream cheese spread upon a bagel.[2][3][4] In some cases, it refers to "an entire set or group of related things", or the expression "the whole shmear".[5] It can also refer to bribery, as a "little extra" spread on top.

In card games such as Schafkopf, Pinochle or Sheepshead, schmearing is to play a high-scoring card to a trick in the hope that your partner will win it. See schmear (cards).

As a slang term, the word shmir in Yiddish also refers to a slap on the face, primarily when disciplining young children.

Origin

Before 900; (v.) Middle English: smeren, smirien to rub with fat, anoint; Old English: smirian, smerian, smerwan; cognate with Dutch: smeren; German: schmieren, Icelandic: smyrja, Old Norse: smyrja, smyrwa; (noun) in current senses derivative of the verb; compare obsolete smear: fat, grease, ointment; Middle English: smere; Old English: smeoru; cognate with Dutch: smear; German: Schmer, Old Norse: smjǫr, Swedish: smör - butter; Danish and Norwegian: smør - butter; Greek: σμύρις (smýris) - rubbing powder.

See also

References
  1. "Now Shmear This". The Forward. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  2. Waldman, Amy (1997-07-27). "Sushi With a Schmear?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  3. "SHMEAR ME! ONE SMALL TOWN, CREAM CHEESE RULES.(News) - The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY) | HighBeam Research". 2012-10-19. Archived from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  4. Skenazy, Lenore. "OY VEY ES SCHMEAR! SOMETHING `UNHOLEY' IS BEING DONE TO THE BAGEL". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  5. "Now Shmear This". The Jewish Daily. 2006-02-10. Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  • The dictionary definition of schmear at Wiktionary
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