Feuerwehr German · revision 35501

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1841}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈfɔɪ̯ɐˌveːɐ̯/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Feuerwehr''' ''f'' (genitive Feuerwehr, plural Feuerwehren)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound [[af|de|Feuer|Wehr|t1=fire|t2=defence]], formed on the model of [[Landwehr]], in which the second part names a body of men organised for defence.^(Kluge 2011|291)^(DWB|3, 1607) The word came up with the volunteer fire brigades founded in Germany, the first in Meißen in 1841.^(Kluge 2011|291)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ The first part is [[goh|fiur]], related to [[ang|fȳr]] and [[grc|πῦρ|tr=pûr]], from [[ine-pro|*péh₂wr̥|t=fire]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(EWA|3, 330)^(Köbler AHD) The second, “defence”, is a back-formation from [[wehren]].^(Kluge 2011|976)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The word appears in 1841 with the volunteer fire brigade of Meißen, a body trained to put out fires.^(Kluge 2011|291)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB|3, 1607) A handbook of firefighting of 1850 says that everyone has an interest in an excellent ''Feuerwehr''.^(DWB2|9, 459)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Besides the organisation itself, the word came to mean the firefighters at work, and in children's language a toy fire engine.^(Duden GWDS 1999) Modern fire brigades also deal with other emergencies and disasters, and their definition has widened accordingly.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(DWB2|9, 459) Figuratively, someone sent to deal with a crisis is called the ''Feuerwehr''.^(Duden GWDS 1999) The [[nl|brandweer]] is a calque of the German word, and it was passed on to Indonesian and Papiamentu.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1841 – The first volunteer ''Feuerwehr'' is founded in Meißen.^(Kluge 2011|291)

+ * 1850 – Magirus writes about the institution of the ''Feuerwehr''.^(DWB2|9, 459)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|fire brigade]] or [[m|en|fire department]], which fights fires and helps in disasters;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''die freiwillige Feuerwehr'' is staffed by volunteers.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' The firefighters on duty, or their vehicles;^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''wie die Feuerwehr fahren'' is to drive very fast.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(children's language)'' A toy [[m|en|fire engine]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Feuerwehrmann]]

+ * [[Feuerwehrfrau]]

+ * [[Feuerwehrauto]]

+ * [[Feuerwehrhaus]]

+ * [[Feuerwehrschlauch]]

+ * [[Berufsfeuerwehr]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Feuerwehrwagen]]

+ * [[Feuer]]

+ * [[Wehr]]

+ * [[Landwehr]]

+ * [[wehren]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}