Spieß

See also: Spiess

German

Alternative forms

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈʃpiːs/
  • Rhymes: -iːs

Etymology 1

From Middle High German spiȥ merged with spieȥ, the former from Old High German spiz, from Proto-Germanic *spituz. Compare Dutch spit, English spit, Swedish spett.

Noun

Spieß m (genitive Spießes, plural Spieße)

  1. spit (pointed rod)
    Heute Abend grillen wir Krabben am Spieß.
    Tonight we’ll grill crabs on the spit.
Declension
Declension of Spieß
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Spieß die Spieße
genitive eines des Spießes der Spieße
dative einem dem Spieß,
Spieße1		 den Spießen
accusative einen den Spieß die Spieße
1Now uncommon, see notes
Hypernyms
  • (spit): Bratenspieß, Fleischspieß
Derived terms
spit

Etymology 2

From Middle High German spieȥ, from Old High German spioz. The term Spieß goes back to the 16th century lansquenet mercenaries, when a noncommissioned officer armed with a pike (the Spieß) closely followed the troops to bring any soldiers who danced out of line back to reason with a swift blow. The name Spieß has stuck to this day, although his modern tasks are more of an administrative and social-services nature.

Noun

Spieß m (genitive Spießes, plural Spieße)

  1. pike (weapon)
    • Luther Bible, Jesaja 2:4
      Da werden sie ihre Schwerter zu Pflugscharen und ihre Spieße zu Sicheln machen.
      and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.
  2. A rank in the German military, equivalent to company sergeant major in the British Army and first sergeant in the U.S. Army.
    Der Spieß ist Unteroffizier in einer Kompanie auf einem herausgehobenen Dienstposten.
    The Spieß is non-commissioned officer in a company in an important post.
    • 1972, Heinrich Böll, Wo warst du, Adam?, p. 31
      »Der Befehl ist erst heute morgen gekommen, vor einer Stunde«, sagte der Spieß.
      “The order arrived only this morning, an hour ago”, said the Spieß.
  3. skewer, a tactic in the game of chess
    Durch einen Spieß setzte er den gegnerischen König ins Schach.
    With a skewer he put the opponent’s king in check.
Synonyms
  • (weapon): Pike, Saufeder, Hellebarde
  • (military rank): Kompaniefeldwebel (KpFw), Batteriefeldwebel (BttrFw) (artillery, air defense), Inspektionsfeldwebel (InspFw) (schools), Staffelfeldwebel (StffFw) (air force), Wachtmeister (marine), also frivolously “Mutter der Kompanie” (company mom)
Antonyms
Hypernyms
  • (weapon): Jagdwaffe, Stichwaffe, Stoßwaffe, Waffe
  • (military rank): Dienstposten
  • (chess): Schachzug
Hyponyms

(weapon): Langspieß, Wurfspieß

Derived terms
weapon

References
  • “Spieß” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • “Spieß” in canoo.net
  • “Spieß” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon

Further reading
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