Zwille

German

Etymology

Sporadically since the 16th century, regular use since the later 20th century. From Low German Twill, Twille, Twele, from Middle Low German twil (“crotch”), from Proto-Germanic *twizlaz, *twizlō, whence also Dutch twil (“kind of lath used in shipbuilding”). Alongside Proto-Germanic *twislaz, *twislō, whence the German doublet Zwiesel and Old English twisla (“bifurcation of a river”). The form Zwille, Zwele exists in a few High German dialects of the Low German borderland. It may have entered standard German thence or directly from Low German. In all these cases the zw- is due to secondary adaptation, perhaps by (etymologically correct) association with zwie-, zwei, Zweig.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtsvɪlə/, [ˈt͡sʋɪlə]

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

Zwille f (genitive Zwille, plural Zwillen)

1. slingshot

   Synonyms: Schleuder, Steinschleuder

2. (regional) Alternative form of Zwiesel (“crotch of a tree”)

   Synonym: Astgabel

Usage notes

• Zwille (“slingshot”) is often met with in the context of demonstrations and riots, especially by left-wing and right-wing extremists. For similar tools used by children the commoner word is Steinschleuder, at least outside of Low German areas.

Declension

Declension of Zwille [feminine]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	eine	die	Zwille	die	Zwillen
genitive	einer	der	Zwille	der	Zwillen
dative	einer	der	Zwille	den	Zwillen
accusative	eine	die	Zwille	die	Zwillen