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Thanks, Bran. The story one usually hears is that in 1811 Napoleon, who was currently in charge of the Low Countries, decreed that all families should have surnames, those being optional until that point. Lots of Dutch families choose surnames at that point. Names from occupations are common in many parts of Europe. In German, the Latin title major, literally 'bigger' (as in major domo), came to be the common surname Meier (many other spellings); this title is similar to the English one of steward which ultimately became the name of the royal house in England and Scotland. Schulz is a contraction of Schultheiß 'mayor; praetorius', the Schult being cognate with Dutch schout. I also ran across a 16th century, German theologian named Michael Praetorius whose German surname was Schulteis.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Woewh, that's a lovely name to go on. He must have had a lot of friends. Oh, I see,it does not mean the same thing as schuldeis (Du)which means the demand for a debt to be payed off. What 's the English for a request for a debt to be payed? Can't think of a word.
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what is the english word for a debt to be paid?
well if you are Late paying, I might dun you
(collection agency's are commercial dunners.)
the standard language is to 'demand payment' (which sound harsh, but that the way it is..)
there might be other words.. (but among my many faults, i don't default--i alway pay my debts!)
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What 's the English for a request for a debt to be payed?
Not sure. We have a verb to dun which means to 'importune a debtor'.
Well, Dutch schuld, German Schuld 'blame, debt, fault, obligation', Old English scyld 'offense, fault, crime, guilt, sin; debt'. German Schultheiß is cognate with Old English scyldhæta 'enemy, foe' (in Medieval Latin scultetus[/i] 'bailiff', which is also a German surname, the latinified Schulz).
[Sorry to have mantled of troy partially while looking into medieval offices. I also see that Gothic has dulgahaitja for creditor at Lk 7:41, where the haitja is cognate with the -heiß in German and -haeta in Old English.]
Last edited by zmjezhd; 06/09/08 09:03 PM.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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old hand
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What 's the English for a request for a debt to be payed? Can't think of a word. At the risk of sounding simple, " to bill" is to send a request for payment, and to " call in" a debt is to ask for the full debt amount to be paid immediately (whereas a bill may be for only part of a debt). Does either one sound familiar? :0)
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To "call in" ,I think, covers the word "schuldeis" (noun) . Seems like there is not a noun equivalant for "call in" ? Well, maybe "debt" simply covers it. Indeed a debt that is urgently called in.
Last edited by BranShea; 06/10/08 10:20 AM.
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old hand
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I have never heard the word dun used in that context, even though my dictionary does have the noun as 'an importunate creditor'. It must be almost completely archaic I think - I've never heard it used in normal speech. Modern words would be to 'bill' or demand an account. I've only ever heard dun used in modern English to mean a brown colour. In Australian English a sheisshausen is called a 'dunny'.
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I can remember my father using the word often enough - he had his own business(es) whilst I was growing up. I can't say that I've heard it recently though. and, the word can still be found in recent writing. - joe (Dun-haunted students. -Dickens) friday
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addict
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I also still hear "dunning notice" as a piece of mail from a collection agency.
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.... I also ran across a 16th century, German theologian named Michael Praetorius whose German surname was Schulteis. Nuncle, the Michael Praetorius (Schultze) I know was a composer. Among his most famous works is Terpsichore, of which I heard three dances on the radio just yesterday: the announcer prefaced the tunes by saying "Party like it's 1599!"
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