טשאַטע

Yiddish

Etymology

Probably borrowed from Ukrainian ча́та (čáta, “lookout group; watch”), from Hungarian csata (“battle”). Possibly also influenced by Slovak čata (“platoon, squad”).

Pronunciation

• YIVO: tshate
• IPA^(key): /t͡ʃatə/

Noun

טשאַטע • (tshate) f, plural טשאַטעס (tshates)

1. pack; herd
   • 1934, Schwartzburg, Abraham Loeb, Der hurben fun mayn shtetl un ire kedoyshim:

     ערשט אויפן מיטן וועג, צװישן אוסע און סעליבע, באַגעגנט אים אַ צווייטע טשאַטע פּאָליאַקן.

     ersht oyfn mitn veg, tsvishn use un selibe, bagegnt im a tsveyte tshate polyakn.

     Only in the middle of the road, between driving back to Seliba, he meets a second gang of Poles.

Usage notes

• Can sometimes be used derogatorily meaning a gang of people.