schrapen

Forms

schrapen^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch scrapen, inherited from Old Dutch *scrapon, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *skrapōn, inherited from Proto-Germanic *skrapōną (“to scrape”).^[2][1][3] The EWN takes it as an ablaut variant of the Middle Dutch strong verb screpen “to scrape”, recorded from 1285, which was mostly weak by the 14th century and later died out;^[2][3][1] Orel derives the Germanic verb from *skrepaną.^[2][3][1]

The same verb is Middle Low German schrapen (whence German schrapen, schrappen), Old English scrapian (modern English scrape) and Old Norse skrapa (Swedish skrapa).^[2][3] The strong verb survives only in Old English screpan, Middle High German schreffen and West Frisian skreppe “to work hard; to hurry”.^[2] Outside Germanic the EWN connects Latin scrobis (“ditch, grave”), Lithuanian skrebė́ti and Polish skrobać “to scratch, to scrape”, from the root Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreb-.^[2] Etymonline takes English ⟨scrape⟩ partly from the Old Norse and partly from the Old English verb.^[4]

From ⟨schrapen⟩ came the intensive schrappen, at first more or less a synonym; ⟨schrabben⟩ “to scratch, to scrape” is another sound variant, perhaps influenced by krabben.^[2][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The word first appears in the compound scraepyzer “scraping iron” in 1376.^[2] The verb itself is used in a Flemish text of 1401 on a head wound, and in 1439 of a surgeon who did not scrape away the pus.^[6][2][7]

Semantic evolution

From removing dirt the verb passed to gathering together: rapen ende scrapen “to pick up and scrape together” worldly goods is recorded in 1485, and Plantijn gives schrapen ende rapen for saving and amassing.^[2][6] The Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal records the scraping of wood, hides and metal, of the plate or block in engraving (1796), of carrots (1684), fish and slaughtered pigs.^[8] Iemand de tong schrapen meant to get someone talking (1646).^[8] De keel schrapen, to clear one's throat, is recorded from 1856.^[2]

Today schrapen stresses the gathering together, schrappen the removing.^[2] Dutch lent the verb to Negerhollands as skraep and, with German, to Finnish raapata;^[9][5] French escraper “to scrape off” of the 15th century is also taken from Dutch.^[9][5]

Timeline

• 1376 – The compound scraepyzer “scraping iron” is first recorded.^[2]
• 1401 – The verb scrapen is used in a Flemish text on wounds.^[6]
• 1439 – Hi en scrapede dat etter niet of “he did not scrape off the pus”.^[2][7]
• 1485 – Rapen ende scrapen “to scrape together” worldly goods is recorded.^[2][6]
• 1684 – Wortelen schraapen “to scrape carrots” is recorded.^[8]
• 1856 – Zich de keel schrapen “to clear one's throat” is recorded.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To scrape, to go over something with a sharp tool to take off its top layer.^[10][1][11]
2. To scrape together, to amass little by little.^[2][11]
3. To clear the throat (de keel schrapen).^[2][11]
4. (intransitive) To rub along something with a grating, scratching sound.^[10]

Word family

• afschrapen
• schraper
• schraapachtig
• schraapsel
• bijeenschrapen
• schraapzucht
• schraapmes
• schraperig

Related words

• schrepel
• schrappen
• English scrape

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r 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 d Orel, Vladimir (2003), A Handbook of Germanic Etymology, Leiden / Boston: Brill
4. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ a b c d Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
7. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
8. ^ 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
9. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
10. ^ a b Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
11. ^ a b c WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org