Wanderwort

noun Wan·der·wort \ ˈwän-dər-ˌwȯrt , ˈvän-dər-ˌvȯrt \

Definition of Wanderwort

plural Wanderwörter play \ˈwän-dər-ˌwər-tər, ˈvän-dər-ˌvœr-tər\ or Wanderworts

: a word borrowed from one language to another across a broad geographical area often as a result of trade or adoption of newly introduced items or cultural practices

Origin and Etymology of wanderwort

borrowed from German, from wander- (derivative of wandern "to wander, roam," going back to Middle High German) + Wort "word," going back to Old High German — more at wander, ¹word

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1980

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year