We Stole That from the Germans Quiz

Answer: Pledge

The Old High German word for to take care of is "pflegan". The English word pledge, meaning to make a promise, comes from "pflegan" because pledges are often said to be a promise to do or take care of something. The Proto-Germanic word "plehana" also means to care for and may also be an origin for pledge.

Answer: Tarnish

Tarnish comes from the Frankish word "tarnijan" which means to cover up or hide. It refers to how rust covers or hides a metallic object during oxidation.

Answer: Blank

The word blank comes from the Frankish word "blank" which means a blinding white light or simply the color white. The Proto-Germanic word "blankaz" also means white.

Answer: Doppelganger

Doppelganger comes from the German word "doppelganger" which refers to a ghostly spirit. literally, however, it means double walker. Doppelgangers, in modern lingo, are people who look just like other people and even act like them. In past times, it referred to a spiritual evil twin that was a harbinger of bad luck.

Answer: Pumpernickel

The word pumpernickel comes from the German words "pumper" meaning fart and "nickel" which is a shortening of the name Nicholas but is slang for devilish person. The origin of how the bread became to be named pumpernickel is unknown. One theory is that it was considered hard to digest. Another states that Napoleon fed the bread to his horse named Nickel.

Answer: Poodle

The English word poodle comes from the Low German word "pudeln" which means the sound of splashing. It could also come from the Low German word for puddle, which is "pudel". "Pudel" is also the German word for the dog breed.

Answer: Tart

The word tart entered the English language from the Proto-Germanic word "tartaz" which means sharp or bitter. It refers to the sour taste tart foods leave on the tongue. Tart may also come from the German word "zart" which means delicate or the word "trotzen" which means to mock.

Answer: Flack

The English word flack, meaning harsh criticism comes from the German abbreviation for "Fliegerabwehrkanone" which is "flak". The "Fliegerabwehrkanone" is a type of anti-aircraft weapon used during World War II. Flack or flak became a word for criticism during the 1960s.

Answer: Stein

A stein is a handled mug typically used to serve beer. Stein gets its name from the German word "stein" which means stone because early steins were made from stones.

Answer: Kaput

"Kaputt," which is the German spelling for kaput means broken or out of order. In English slang, kaput is usually used to describe something that is finished or completed, as in the following sentence: "This computer crashed. It's kaput."