schat

Forms

schat m (plural schatten, diminutive schatje n)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch scat, inherited from Old Dutch skat, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *skatt, inherited from Proto-Germanic *skatta- (“wealth, property, cattle”).^[2][1][3] The same word is Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌰𐍄𐍄𐍃 (skatts, “coin, money”), Old Norse skattr (“tribute, treasure”), Old English sceatt (“property, money”), Old Frisian sket (“money, cattle”), Old Saxon skat and Old High German scaz (modern German Schatz).^[2][3][4] Old French escat (“treasure”) was borrowed from Old Dutch.^[2][5]

The first Germanic meaning was probably “cattle”, as cattle were the chief means of payment; the evidence is Old Frisian, which still has that sense, and Old Church Slavonic скотъ (skotŭ, “cattle”), which the Slavic languages took from Germanic.^[2][4][6] For the same shift from cattle to wealth the Philippa dictionary compares pecūnia and vee.^[2] The further origin is unknown: there are no related words in other languages, and the word may come from an unknown pre-Indo-European language.^[2][7] Kroonen links it with a Westphalian verb meaning “to yield” and a form *skh₁dʰ-nó-, and rejects a connection with scateō (“to gush forth”).^[3][1] De Vries lists further proposals (a Germanic *skwatta-, a wanderword from the East, the Gaulish people the Σκόττοι (Skóttoi)) and finds none convincing.^[4][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

Old Dutch skat is first found in the place name Scatacer, “treasure field”, near Oudenaarde (about 1185); a Werden text of about 1151 has Judas sell the Lord for einen lutzel scaz, a small sum of money.^[2][5] In Middle Dutch a Limburg glossary of about 1240 gives schat for Latin pecunia and scat for thesaurus.^[9][2][10]

Semantic evolution

In Middle Dutch the word meant money in general, even a small sum (enen cleinen schat), as well as a hoard of valuables, a tax and a treasury;^[11][9][4] scat ende scult gheven, to pay taxes and dues, is in a Holland charter of 1297.^[11][9][4] Already in the 13th century it was used of something of spiritual worth and of a beloved person.^[9] The medieval glossaries and Kiliaan no longer record the sense “money in general” and put stored-up valuables first.^[11]

In the 16th and 17th centuries schat was common in book titles, such as Schat der Neder-duytscher spraken (1573).^[12] Today it is above all a term of endearment, mijn schat.^[13][1] Dutch gave the word to Negerhollands and Papiamentu, and in Sranan skat “darling” is used only between women.^[14][1]

Timeline

• c. 1151 – Old Dutch scaz “sum of money” in a Werden text.^[5]
• c. 1185 – The place name Scatacer in East Flanders.^[2][5]
• c. 1190 – Old French escat, borrowed from Old Dutch.^[5]
• c. 1240 – Middle Dutch schat “money” and scat “treasure” in a Limburg glossary.^[9][10]
• 1297 – Scat ende scult gheven, to pay taxes and dues.^[9]
• 1573 – Schat der Neder-duytscher spraken, a book title.^[12]
• 1599 – The treasure of Saint-Denis, with the jewels and sceptre of the French kings.^[12]

Meanings

Noun

1. A treasure: a collection of valuable objects or precious metals: de duikers vonden een schat in het wrak.^[13][1][15]
2. Something or someone very precious to a person.^[13]
3. A rich store or abundance of something: een schat aan informatie.^[13][1]
4. darling, dear: a term of endearment: kom je eten, schat?.^[13][1][15]

Word family

• schatten
• bodemschat
• bruidsschat
• goudschat
• kunstschat
• schatbewaarder
• schateiland
• schatgraven
• schatkamer
• schatkist
• schatmeester
• schatrijk
• schattebout
• schattepatat
• schattig

Related words

• German Schatz

Usage notes

Schatten verdienen is to earn a fortune.^[13]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
3. ^ a b c Kroonen, Guus (2013), Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 11, Leiden / Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d e Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
5. ^ a b c d e Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org
6. ^ Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
7. ^ Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum
8. ^ Haeringen, C. B. van (1936), Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal: Supplement, 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
9. ^ a b c d e f Pijnenburg, W. J. J., et al. (2001), Vroegmiddelnederlands woordenboek: woordenboek van het Nederlands van de dertiende eeuw in hoofdzaak op basis van het Corpus-Gysseling, Leiden: Instituut voor Nederlandse Lexicologie; gtb.ivdnt.org
10. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
11. ^ a b c Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
12. ^ a b c Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
13. ^ a b c d e f Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
14. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
15. ^ a b WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org