Protz

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pʁɔt͡s/

• Audio:

  (file)

Etymology 1

Perhaps from regional terms for toad, from Middle High German broʒʒen (“to swell”), just as braggarts inflate themselves with their pride and ego. Further origin is uncertain; speculative connections have been made to Proto-Indo-European *bʰrews- (“to swell”), whence Proto-Germanic *breustą (“breast, chest”).

Noun

Protz m (strong or weak, genitive Protzes or Protzen, plural Protze or Protzen)

1. (derogatory) braggard, poseur
2. (derogatory) splendor, magnificence, splurge

   Synonyms: Prasserei, Pracht, Prunk, Pomp

3. tractor with artillery

Declension

Declension of Protz [masculine, strong // weak]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Protz	die	Protze, Protzen
genitive	eines	des	Protzes, Protzen	der	Protze, Protzen
dative	einem	dem	Protz, Protze1, Protzen	den	Protzen
accusative	einen	den	Protz, Protzen	die	Protze, Protzen

¹Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

• Kraftprotz
• Muskelprotz
• protzen
• Protzentum
• Protzer
• Protzerei
• protzig

Descendants

• → Hungarian: procc

Etymology 2

From Middle High German broʒ (“bud”), from Middle High German broʒʒen (“to sprout”), which may be of the same origin as Etymology 1.

Noun

Protz m (strong or weak, genitive Protzes or Protzen, plural Protze or Protzen)

1. (forestry) coniferous tree with abnormal growth

Declension

Declension of Protz [masculine, strong // weak]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Protz	die	Protze, Protzen
genitive	eines	des	Protzes, Protzen	der	Protze, Protzen
dative	einem	dem	Protz, Protze1, Protzen	den	Protzen
accusative	einen	den	Protz, Protzen	die	Protze, Protzen

¹Now rare, see notes.

Further reading

• “Protz (Aufschneider)” in Duden online
• “Protz (Baum)” in Duden online
• “Protz” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Protz” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.