wafel

Forms

wafel m (plural wafels, diminutive wafeltje n)^[1] Flemish and Limburg dialects have waffel, and the form wafer was also used.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch wâfel, wafele, inherited from Old Dutch *wāfla, inherited from Proto-Germanic *wēb-ilō-, an ablaut derivative of the root of weven (“to weave”) with the suffix seen in druppel.^[4][1][5][6] The cake is named for its woven pattern, like a honeycomb: Old High German waba (modern German Wabe) means “honeycomb”, and so does ⟨wafel⟩ in Dutch dialects.^[4][7][8][9] The /f/ instead of /v/ comes from the sharpening of the consonant before ⟨l⟩, as in gaffel.^[6][2]

The Old Dutch form is reconstructed from Old French, which borrowed it as Old French walfre by about 1180: according to the ONW ⟨*wāfla⟩ became ⟨*walfla⟩ and, by dissimilation, ⟨walfra⟩.^[5][8] The modern French gaufre still means both “waffle” and “honeycomb”.^[4][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The word first appears in bynames: Willelmo Wavel and a second Wavel of 1236–1268, and Andream Wavelare “Andrew the waffle baker” of 1281.^[4] The VMNW records Boidin wauel in a list of members from Ghent in 1270.^[10]

Semantic evolution

The first non-name use is figurative: a text of about 1350 says that Christ feeds his tormentors with the waflen of his sweet body.^[4][3] The sense “waffle” shows first in waferyser “waffle iron” (1383), and the word alone about 1440.^[4] Waffles were eaten on feast days such as Shrovetide (1612) and Zeeland waffles were offered for sale in 1702.^[2] A 1632 rhyme praises warmth at the back, food in the belly and a good waffle in the hand.^[2]

The sense “mouth” and “slap in the face” belong to the unrelated waffel “gob”, an imitative word after wauwelen, which was confused with wafel.^[2]

Low German borrowed the word from Dutch and passed it on to German Waffel.^[4][8] It also went to English waffle (1744), Danish vaffel and Swedish våffla, and to Russian váflja (1717).^[4][8][11] English wafer came through Old French.^[6]

Timeline

• 1236–1268 – The byname Wavel is recorded.^[4]
• 1270 – Boidin wauel appears in Ghent.^[10]
• 1281 – Wavelare “waffle baker” is recorded as a byname.^[4]
• c. 1350 – Waflen is used figuratively of spiritual food.^[4]
• 1383 – Waferyser “waffle iron” is recorded.^[4]
• c. 1440 – Wafele “waffle” appears on its own;^[4][12] Van der Sijs dates the word to 1450.^[4][12]
• 1702 – Zeeland waffles are offered for sale.^[2]
• 1744 – English waffle is first recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A waffle, a light, flat cake of flour, milk and eggs baked in a waffle iron; also a wafer.^[13][1]
2. A checked pattern like that of a waffle.^[13]
3. (informal) Mouth.^[13][14]

Word family

• stroopwafel
• wafelbak
• wafelijzer
• wafelbakker

Related words

• weven
• English waffle

Usage notes

A Luikse wafel is a sweet, often oval waffle covered with pearl sugar.^[13] The proverb wafels en vrijsters moeten heet behandeld worden “waffles and maidens must be handled hot” (1861) urges using a chance while it lasts.^[2]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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
3. ^ a b Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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
5. ^ a b Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org
6. ^ a b c d Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
7. ^ Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
8. ^ a b c d e Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ Weijnen, A. A. (2003), Etymologisch dialectwoordenboek, 2nd ed., Den Haag: Sdu
10. ^ a b 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
11. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
12. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
13. ^ a b c d Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
14. ^ WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org