schnitzel

Where does the word "schnitzel" come from? It comes from German schnitzen, passing through German/Austrian before entering English (1900s).

Schnitzel’s story begins in German: schnitzen meant “to carve, cut.” Meaning "to carve" or "cut". By 1800s, the word had taken hold in German/Austrian as Schnitzel. Named a thin, breaded cutlet of meat. It reached English by 1900s as schnitzel. Wiener Schnitzel, Vienna's breaded veal cutlet. Today, schnitzel means a thin slice of meat, breaded and fried.

1. Stage 1 · German · medieval schnitzen "to carve, cut", meaning "to carve" or "cut".
2. Stage 2 · German/Austrian · 1800s Schnitzel "a thin breaded cutlet", named a thin, breaded cutlet of meat.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1900s schnitzel "a thin, breaded and fried cutlet", Wiener Schnitzel, Vienna's breaded veal cutlet.