Chmoe: what is schmuck and where did this word come from?

In addition to the fact that the Russian language is great and powerful, it is also rich in all kinds of obscene and slang expressions. You can argue as much as you can about the admissibility of the battle or the complete lack of culture of this phenomenon, but from the linguistic point of view, street argo is a beautiful mirror of society. For example, almost everywhere you can hear the word "chmo". What is schmuck, who is this chmoshnik and is this word an insult?

What the dictionaries say

Explanatory dictionaries of different authors converge in the main: "schmuck" is an insult. This word refers to a person sloppy, awkward, unsuccessful, stupid, descended. Perhaps someone believes that the statement of fact is not an insult, but it is difficult to find a person who will be delighted to hear in his address: "Hey you, schmuck!" What is this mysterious "schmuck" and where did it come from? On this score, there are several opinions.

Dahl's dictionary on the question of what "chmo" means, refers us to the word "chmarit" ("chmyrit") - to vegetate in poverty, to be poor, to wither away. If you accept this version, then "schmuck" is a derivative of the slang noun, which originated from the verb "chmarit." In parallel, in street argo there is such a thing as "zachmorit" - "to hunt, to lower morally," that is, to turn a person into a schmuck.

Army version

Adherents of the army version argue that "chmo" is a common word, derived from the abbreviation of the CMO - the Part of Material Support. The appearance of this word is attributed to the times of the Great Patriotic War, when the heroes who fought on the front expressed their legitimate contempt for the so-called rear rats. Parts of material security were less likely to fall under shelling, they did not attack - their function was, in fact, material support. Soldiers from the front believed that whoever was not with them, that rear rats, and HMO turned into schmuck. What is a survivor and not even a wounded soldier from the supply chain? Of course, schmuck.

The front witty people are also credited with another interpretation of the abbreviation of the CMO - "they chug, muddle, deceive" (an obscene version of the word). It does not add anything new to the definition, but it explains the degree of indignation.

Hebrew version

In fact, this is an international version. The non-print definition in Yiddish, which sounds like "shmok", migrated to American English and was transformed into "shmo". This American Yiddishism successfully migrated to the territory of the USSR, presumably - to Odessa. It was there that the transformation was completed, and a new capacious word - "chmo" - sounded in the Odessa gates. What is a considerable geographic hook for half the globe for a catchword? Little things. And after this short three-letter word has grown to a more expressive "chmoshnik." In some ways, this sounds even more offensive, such an end as if emphasizes an additional portion of contempt.

Derived abbreviations

Since language is a matter of flexible and continuously evolving, the versions about the origin of the word have multiplied and multiplied. Growth in the abbreviation was inevitable. If in the army version of the abbreviation mutated to the usual word, then the reverse process did not become something more complicated, but it became extremely interesting.

What will answer if now ask passers-by on the street, what does "schmuck" mean? The overwhelming majority will reply that this is the "Man Morally Downed." This definition is already from the criminal world, and it is worth paying attention - not descended (himself, of his own volition and weakness), and omitted (someone strong who has the right).

Then people begin to practice wit. Here are the options:

• Man of the Moscow Region;
• Champion of the Moscow Region;
• Man Financially secured;
• The person is morally burdened;
• Man Morally Obsessed;
• Officer Momentarily obnagled;
• A person disturbing the Society and so on.

What place in the lexicon is the word "chmo"

There is a perfectly legitimate question about whether it is appropriate to use the word "schmuck" in communication? If you consider that this is a slang term, and in cultural circles slang is considered non grata by default, the conclusion is simple - do not abuse the word "schmuck". The meaning of this definition lies in pejorative and contemptuous plane, therefore in some cases this is just as unacceptable as obscene lexicon.

However, if in business and official communication it is clearly not worthwhile to reward someone with a dubious title of a chmoshnik, then in everyday speech this word is used extremely widely. "Chmo" so densely entered the generally accepted lexicon, which is successfully considered a substitute for heavier curses, and since it is practically impossible to prove its obscene coloration, the insulting meaning gradually dissolves in the everyday stream of domestic rudeness.

In a confidential communication, it is permissible to call an unpleasant person a rude person or to wrap everything up as a joke. Of great importance here is the intonation with which the word was thrown, as well as the accompanying facial expressions. Emotional coloring can, if not cardinally, significantly change the tonality. However, in virtual communication, when intonations have to be guessed and interpreted to the best of their abilities and abilities, the meaning remains disdainful with an obvious desire to offend the interlocutor.