Polack

Polack

The noun Polack (pō'lāk') used in the English language is a derogatory reference to a person of Polish descent [ [http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=polack Dictionary.com definition for "Polack".] ] and an onomatopoeia imitating the sound of the Polish language word "Polak" (spelled without the "c"), which, in the Polish language, means a Polish male person (feminine being "Polka"). The noun "Polack" spelled with the "c" however, does not exist in the Polish language.

According to Online Etymology Dictionary by Douglas Harper, "Polack" meant as "Polish immigrant, person of Polish descent" was used in American English until the late 19th century (1879) to describe a "Polish person" in a non-offensive way (1574). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) based on the Unabridged Dictionary by Random House claims that the word originated between 1590–1600.

Today, in the English-speaking world, the word "Polack" is an ethnic slur:
# "Slang: Disparaging and Offensive" (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
# "Offensive Slang" Used as a disparaging term for a person of Polish birth or descent (The American Heritage® Dictionary)

The only acceptable English language alternative to the term "Polish person" today is Pole (see also: Naming Poland in foreign languages). Nevertheless, in some other languages such as Swedish e.g., "Polack" is an acceptable expression for a person from Poland. [Sten Malmström & Iréne Györki, "Bonniers svenska ordbok" (Bonniers' Swedish dictionary), ed. Peter A. Sjögren (Stockholm: Bonniers, 1980), ISBN 91-0-042749-7, p. 249.]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Polack — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Charles August Polack (1860–1934), deutscher Nautiker und Kapitän Jan Polack (1435–1519), polnischer Maler Joel Samuel Polack (1807–1882), erster jüdische Siedler in Neuseeland Siegfried Polack (1899–1944) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Polack — Po lack, n. A Polander. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Polack — Polack, 1) im gemeinen Leben so v.w. Pole; 2) so v.w. Polnisches Pferd; 3) einen P. im Glase lassen, ein Restchen Getränk im Glase lassen; 4) ein geschnittenes Huhn …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Polack — (Polak), Pole; auch polnisches Pferd …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Polack — Polack, s.v.w. Pole; auch poln. Pferd …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Polack — (n.) Polish person, 1570s, from Polish Polak (male) Polish person; in North American usage, Polish immigrant, person of Polish descent (1879) and in that context considered offensive in English …   Etymology dictionary

  • Polack — [pō′läk΄] n. Slang a person of Polish descent: a disparaging or derisive term …   English World dictionary

  • polack — polaque [ pɔlak ] n. m. • 1512; polonais polak « polonais » 1 ♦ Hist. Cavalier polonais, mercenaire des armées françaises. 2 ♦ Fam. et péj. Polonais (on écrit aussi polack). polack ou polak …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Polack — Recorded as Polack and Polak, amongst its many attributes, this surname was one of the earliest German surnames into the United States of America, see below, and is associated with the period of Independence (1771 1783). It was also one of the… …   Surnames reference

  • Polack — 1. E Pollack blöwt e Pollack on wenn hei bet Möddag liggt. – Frischbier2, 2973. 2. Ein Polack ohne Läuse, ein Feld ohne Mäuse, ein Krieger ohne Klinge sind drei seltene Dinge. (S. ⇨ Liebe 572.) *3. Der Pulacke schläd n (schlägt ihn) doch immer ei …   Deutsches Sprichwörter-Lexikon

Share the article and excerpts

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