schmaltz English · revision 1113

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʃmɒlts/, /ʃmɔːlts/ ''(UK)''; /ʃmɔlts/, /ʃmɑlts/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|yi|שמאַלץ|tr=shmalts|t=melted fat; sentimentality]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from [[gmh|smalz|t=animal fat]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from Old High German ''smalz'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) related to ''smelzan'' “to melt”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It is related to [[smelt]].^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) Modern German ''Schmalz'' “fat, grease” has the same figurative sense.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cloying sentimentality, especially in music (1935);^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) also melted chicken fat (1935).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In 1935 jazz musicians used ''schmaltz'' as a contemptuous term for sweet, straight dance music, as opposed to improvised hot jazz.^(Etymonline) The verb, to play or make sentimental, is from 1936,^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) and ''schmaltzy'' from 1935.^(Barnhart 1995) In Jewish-American cookery ''schmaltz herring'' is recorded by 1914.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1914 – ''schmaltz herring''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1935 – sentimentality, chicken fat, and ''schmaltzy''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1936 – verb, to make sentimental.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Excessive [[sentimentality]], especially in music, art or writing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Melted fat, especially chicken or goose fat.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make sentimental, or to play music in a sentimental way; often with ''up''.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[schmaltzy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[smelt]]

+ * [[enamel]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}