Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3
BranShea #177281 06/09/08 02:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
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.
zmjezhd #177286 06/09/08 06:59 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
 Quote:
Schulteis

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.

BranShea #177287 06/09/08 07:51 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
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!)

BranShea #177288 06/09/08 08:17 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
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.
BranShea #177289 06/09/08 08:42 PM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876
 Originally Posted By: BranShea
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)

twosleepy #177293 06/10/08 10:12 AM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
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.
of troy #177294 06/10/08 10:18 AM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
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'.

The Pook #177300 06/10/08 02:32 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
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

tsuwm #177304 06/10/08 03:56 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 557
M
addict
Offline
addict
M
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 557
I also still hear "dunning notice" as a piece of mail from a collection agency.

zmjezhd #177305 06/10/08 04:03 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
 Originally Posted By: zmjezhd
.... 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!"

Page 2 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,915
Posts230,004
Members9,198
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
testawad, Bill_L, achz, MAGNVSTALSMA, Burlyfish
9,198 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 746 guests, and 7 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,965
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,956
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2025 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5