See also: Schlapp

German

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Etymology

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From Middle Low German slap (flaccid), from Proto-Germanic *slap-, perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leh₂b- (to be weak, limp, languid), and from the same family of words as German *slēpaną (to sleep); see also Latin labō (fluctuate, waver).[1] Doublet of schlaff, which is often interchangeable in modern German. Also cognate with Dutch slap.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ʃlap/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -ap

Adjective

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schlapp (strong nominative masculine singular schlapper, comparative schlapper, superlative am schlappsten)

  1. (of people or behaviour) weak, lacking vigour, weary, exhausted
  2. (of things) slack, flabby, limp

Usage notes

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  • Schlapp is the more common form referring to people or actions; schlaff is the more common form referring to things.

Declension

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Derived terms

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References

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  1. ^ van der Sijs, Nicoline, editor (2010), “slap”, in Etymologiebank, Meertens Institute