Kibitzer

Many board and card games, such as chess and skat, spectators will watch a game called lapwings.

In card games, it is common that a lapwing is allowed to see only one player in the cards. This is intended to prevent possible character -giving gestures or comments. For large international and national tournaments ( chess, bridge ) the lapwing is only permitted via monitors. In chess, the term is partly used pejoratively; meant then observers who interfere by interjections. The word is also in the English-speaking world as kibitz kibitzer or (noun) or to kibitz known ( verb). In Polish, is called " Kibic " a fan of a sport, a sports club or basically a spectator sporting event referred to.

Origin of the word

With the lapwing bird whose name was as the sound of the word warning call this plover, the name of the game observer is likely to lead only by folk etymology. According to the form and manner of use are probably influenced by this bird name (in the understanding of the secondary motivated linguistics ), but the description from another roots developed. According to the prevailing linguistic opinion it comes from the Rotwelschen, the secret language of the travelers and rogues, where since the 19th century the forms Kiewisch, chip Pesch, Gippesch, Kippesch, with the meanings " search, examination, body search ", the compositions Medinekiewisch ( " country patrol, police hunt for Gypsies " ), Unterkiewisch ('investigation, investigation process ") and the verbs kiewischen, kibitschen, chip typical, unterkiewischen ( " inspect, browse ") and bekibbischen ( " touch " ) are attested.

In Rotwelschen, it refers first to the magistrate Kiewisch against Rotwelssprecher and "Gypsy " and on the medical examination of prostitutes, in addition to the searching of bags, clothing, premises and the mutual Examine the Rotwelschssprecher after a successful criminal enterprise also for general ensure that none of the participants suggests a share of the spoils. The original use way lives on also in the related Austrian word Kiberer ( " cop ").

Already in 1855, the term peewits in chess was common. At least in the second half of the 19th century the word was transferred to the area of the card game and went from there into the German vernacular, and subsequently also in the literature language.

The root of the word Rotwelschen is not known for certain in older literature this a Yiddish word became his kobesch or koiwesch " subdue, suppress " and possible influence of kewius " certainty, security " suspected.

Comments

• Game concept