קלאַפֿטער

Yiddish

Etymology

From Old High German klāftra. Compare German Klafter. Development of swimming-related senses uncertain.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɫaftər/

Noun

קלאַפֿטער • (klafter) m, plural קלאַפֿטערס (klafters) or קלאַפֿטער (klafter)

1. (historical) fathom (six feet, originally a man's armspan)
2. (historical) fathom (unit of volume equivalent to 0.56 cubic metres; to measure wood size)
3. (swimming) freestyle, front crawl

   Synonym: קלאַפֿטערשוווּם (klaftershvum)

4. breaststroke

   Synonym: זשאַבעשוווּם (zhabeshvum)

Usage notes

• Usage as "breaststroke" is not attested in the CEYD.

Derived terms

• קלאַפֿטערהאָלץ (klafterholts, “firewood”)
• קלאַפֿטערשוווּם (klaftershvum)
• לייגן קלאַפֿטער (leygn klafter, “to swim freestyle”)

References

• Justus van de Kamp et al., “קלאַפֿטער” in Jiddisch-Nederlands Woordenboek [Yiddish-Dutch Dictionary], Amsterdam: Stichting Jiddische Lexicografie, 1987-present (ongoing). [1].
• Schaechter-Viswanath, Gitl, Glasser, Paul (2016) “freestyle”, in Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary, Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, →ISBN