schmooze English · revision 1638

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʃmuːz/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|yi|שמועסן|tr=shmuesn|t=to chat]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''shmues'' “idle talk, chat”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|he|שמועות|tr=šəmūʿōt|t=news, rumors]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To chat or gossip; to have a long, intimate conversation (1897, as ''schmoos'', or 1884 in Merriam-Webster).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, a chat, followed in 1939,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and the agent noun ''schmoozer'' is recorded by 1909.^(Etymonline) The word is originally American.^(RHWU) In modern use it often implies chatting in a friendly, persuasive way to gain favour, business or connections.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1884 – Merriam-Webster's date.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1897 – verb, to chat.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1909 – ''schmoozer''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1939 – noun.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To talk casually; to [[chat]] or [[gossip]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To chat in a friendly, persuasive way so as to gain favor, business or connections.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A casual, often gossipy or ingratiating conversation.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[schmoozer]]

+ * [[schmoozy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chat]]

+ * [[gossip]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}