Re: [Cz-L] Gewald

Etymology
>From Yiddish ?? ?????? (oy gvald). This comes from German Gewalt (power,
force violence); the similar Polish gwalt ("violence") is also from German,
(the Polish and Ukranian word has since gravitated into "rape"). On the
other hand, in usage of polish Jewry, the word was used for harm of any kind
(incl. even being given an unfavourable price when haggling).

[edit]

Hardy
----- Original Message -----
From: "cornel fleming" <cornel.fleming_at_virgin.net>
To: "'HARDY BREIER'" <HARDY3_at_bezeqint.net>; "'CZERNOWITZ-L'"
<Czernowitz-L_at_cornell.edu>
Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2011 3:04 PM
Subject: RE: [Cz-L] Gewald

> Hardy,,I have always known this word as "gevalt" with a t on the end..as
> in
> "oy gevalt" so why the d spelling ?? Cornel
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bounce-37779454-8441035_at_list.cornell.edu
> [mailto:bounce-37779454-8441035_at_list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of HARDY
> BREIER
> Sent: 16 July 2011 07:09
> To: CZERNOWITZ-L
> Subject: [Cz-L] Gewald
>
> "Gewald" is the distress call of the East European Jew.
> Probably deriving from the German word "Gewalt" for brute force
> the meaning is " I am in deep trouble , Jews , come assist me.
> What do you do in a back alley if four robbers come to mug you ?
> You shout : "Gewald ".
> If a bear attacks you in a dark forest ? You cry "Gewald".
> If you have a nightmare : "Gewald" you cry from your sleep.
> Does it help ?
> If some other Jew hears this call he might come and help.
> Other will not know or really care.
> "Gewald".
> Hardy

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Received on 2011-07-16 09:00:10