schmuck

Where does the word "schmuck" come from? It comes from Yiddish shmok, and was adopted directly into English (1800s-1900s).

Schmuck’s story begins in Yiddish: shmok meant “a foolish or contemptible person.” A vulgar slang term, of disputed further origin. It reached English by 1800s-1900s as schmuck. Yiddish 'shmok', a vulgar word for penis, from German 'Schmuck', jewellery. Today, schmuck means a foolish, contemptible, or obnoxious person.

1. Stage 1 · Yiddish · medieval shmok "a foolish or contemptible person", a vulgar slang term, of disputed further origin.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s-1900s schmuck "a foolish or contemptible person", Yiddish 'shmok', a vulgar word for penis, from German 'Schmuck', jewellery.