Schnorrer

Schnorrer

Schnorrer (also spelled shnorrer) is a Yiddish term meaning "beggar" or "sponger". The word "Schnorrer" also occurs in German to describe a person, who frequently asks for little things like cigarettes or little sums of money, without offering a return, and has thus come to mean freeloader. The English usage of the word denotes a sly chiseller who will get money out of another any way he can, often through an air of entitlement. A schnorrer is distinguished from an ordinary beggar by dint of his boundless chutzpah. The term does not apply to begging or being homeless, but rather a habit of getting things (food, tools) rather than money by politely wanting to borrow them.

The term, which is used in a pejorative or ironic sense, can also be used as a backhanded compliment to someone's perseverance, cleverness, or thrift. For instance, Azriel Hildesheimer, known for his travels around Europe to spread his rabbinical wisdom to the poor, and for his refusal to accept payment for his services, was sometimes referred to as the "international schnorrer" for his reliance on the local community to house and feed him wherever he went. Israel Zangwill best described a schnorrer as a beggar who would chide a donor for not giving enough.

chnorrers in film and literature

*Israel Zangwill: "The King of Schnorrers" (1894 novel)
*Groucho Marx, in his movies, often assumed the role of a schnorrer. The word is used in the song "Hooray for Captain Spaulding" in the Marx Brothers' musical "Animal Crackers": "Hooray for Captain Spaulding/The African explorer/Did someone call me schnorrer?/Hooray, hooray, hooray!"
*Dr. Zoidberg in Futurama is an (inexplicably Yiddish-accented) humanoid lobster schnorrer.
*Mordecai Richler's, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
*The comedian Jackie Mason often pokes fun at the stereotype of Jews as schnorrers.
*The character of Father Phil Intintola on "The Sopranos", as played by Paul Schulze, self-deprecatingly refers to himself as a schnorrer, especially with regards to his always showing up when Carmela is cooking.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Schnorrer — Schnorrer,der:1.⇨Schmarotzer(2)–2.⇨Bettler Schnorrer→Bettler …   Das Wörterbuch der Synonyme

  • Schnorrer — Schnor rer, n. [Yiddish, fr. G. schnurrer, fr. schnurren to hum, whir, hence, from the sound of the musical instrument used by strolling beggars, to beg.] Among the Jews, a beggar. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Schnorrer — (jüd. deutsch), Bettler; vgl. Bettelwesen, S. 775 …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Schnorrer — Schnorrer(Schnurrer)m 1.Bettler.⇨schnorren1.1700ff. 2.Mann,derAutofahrerumunentgeltlicheMitnahmebittet.1930ff. 3.Schmarotzer.1870ff. 4.Mann,dermiteinererlogenenGeschichteleichtgläubigeLeutezurHergabevonGeldbewegt.1930ff.… …   Wörterbuch der deutschen Umgangssprache

  • schnorrer — (n.) 1892, from Yiddish, beggar, from German slang schnurrer, from schnurren to go begging (slang), perhaps ultimately imitative of the sound of pleading or whining (e.g. sneer, snorkel, snarl) …   Etymology dictionary

  • schnorrer — [shnôr′ər] n. [< Yiddish < Ger schnurrer < schnurren, to whir, purr (of echoic orig.): from the sound made by musical instruments carried by beggars] Slang a person who lives by begging or by sponging on others …   English World dictionary

  • Schnorrer — Polnische Schnorrer in Leipzig. Aus: Die Gartenlaube (1875) Der Schnorrer ist eine Person, die sich durch häufiges, nicht aggressives Bitten um Gefälligkeiten oder Geld unbeliebt macht. Sie bringt andere dazu, sie zu unterstützen, ohne… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Schnorrer — schnorren, (auch:) schnurren (ugs. für:) »betteln, nassauern«: Da die alten Bettelmusikanten gern mit Lärminstrumenten wie Schnurre und Schnurrpfeife herumzogen, erhielten 2schnurren und seine mdal., besonders jidd. Nebenform schnorren im 18. Jh …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • schnorrer — [“Jnora* ] n. a beggar; a person who sponges off of friends and relatives. (Yiddish.) □ Here comes that schnorrer from down the street. Look poor. □ Buy your own ciggies if you don’t like mine. Shnorrers can’t be choosers …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • schnorrer — noun Etymology: Yiddish shnorer Date: 1892 beggar; especially one who wheedles others into supplying his wants …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”