Springinsfeld

German

Etymology

Univerbation of spring +‎ ins +‎ Feld, literally “jump into the field”, attested from the 17th century, either from or equivalent to Middle Low German springe int velt (late 16th c.). Originally used of mercenaries.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃpʁɪŋ.ɪnsˌfɛlt/, [ˈʃpʁɪŋ.ʔɪnt͡sˌfɛlt], [ˈʃpʁɪ.ŋɪnt͡sˌfɛlt]

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Springinsfeld m (strong, genitive Springinsfelds or Springinsfeldes, plural Springinsfelde)

1. carefree, careless young person
   • 1843, Brothers Grimm, “Die beiden Wanderer”, in Kinder- und Haus-Märchen, Band 2‎^[1], 5th edition, page 118:

     „Lauf hin,“ sagte der Schneider, „ich sehe du bist auch so ein Springinsfeld.“

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Declension

Declension of Springinsfeld [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Springinsfeld	die	Springinsfelde
genitive	eines	des	Springinsfelds, Springinsfeldes	der	Springinsfelde
dative	einem	dem	Springinsfeld, Springinsfelde1	den	Springinsfelden
accusative	einen	den	Springinsfeld	die	Springinsfelde

¹Now rare, see notes.

Further reading

• “Springinsfeld” in Duden online