Schanze

German

Etymology

Of uncertain origin. Attested since the 15th century. Several etymologies have been proposed.[1]

Pfeifer suggests the regional Franconian/Hessian term Schanze (“basket”) (itself of unknown origin) as the origin, arguing that entrenchments resemble baskets from the inside, being dug-out earth pits that have been reinforced from the inside with brushwood. He rejects a derivation from Italian scansi (noun), plural of scanso, claiming that such theories are based on an unverifiable meaning of “defense”/“resistance” of the Italian term.[2]

See also Dutch schans, Danish skanse, Swedish skans and English sconce.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈʃantsə/
  • Audio(file)
  • Rhymes: -antsə

Noun

Schanze f (genitive Schanze, plural Schanzen)

  1. entrenchment, redoubt
    Synonym: Schanzanlage
    Hypernyms: Verteidigungsanlage, Befestigungsanlage
  2. ramp; jump (an installation, either temporary or permanent, that is driven over quickly (with skis, a bike etc.) so that the driver is propelled into the air)
    Synonym: Sprungschanze
    Hyponyms: Skischanze, Fahrradschanze

Declension
Declension of Schanze [feminine]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative eine die Schanze die Schanzen
genitive einer der Schanze der Schanzen
dative einer der Schanze den Schanzen
accusative eine die Schanze die Schanzen

Derived terms
  • (ramp): Schanzenrekord
  • (entrenchment): Befestigungsschanze, Großschanze, Schanztechnik, Schanzwerk, Verschanzung
  • (ramp): Vierschanzentournee

Descendants
  • → Polish: szaniec, szańc
    • → Romanian: șanț
    • → Russian: ша́нец (šánec)
    • → Ukrainian: ша́нець (šánecʹ)
  • → Serbo-Croatian: шанац

References
  1. schans, etymologiebank.ivdnt.org
  2. Wolfgang Pfeifer, editor (1993), “Schanze”, in Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Deutschen (in German), 2nd edition, Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, →ISBN

Further reading
  • “Schanze” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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