English

Witzelsucht

Witzelsucht comes from German Witzelsucht.

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

A compound of witzeln ‘to joke’ + Sucht ‘obsession, addiction’

Proto-Germanic *seuk-

Proto-Germanic *seukaną ‘to be sick’

Proto-Germanic *suhtiz ‘sickness’

Proto-West Germanic *suhti

Old High German suht

Middle High German suht

German Sucht ‘obsession, addiction’

Every English word from German Witzelsucht

noun A tendency to tell inappropriate or pointless stories and poor jokes; excessive facetiousness, especially when due to some medical condition.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.