pitschen

German

Etymology

From Central Franconian petsche (“to pinch someone or otherwise hurt their skin”), from Middle High German *pfitzen, pfetzen; compare archaic or regional German pfetzen (“to pinch; to taunt”), petzen (“to tattle, snitch”), Dutch pitsen (“to pinch”). Adopted into standard German, which uses kneifen for “to pinch”, in a specialized sense.

Verb

1. (regional, western Germany) to flick someone; to hurt them by flipping one’s finger against their skin
2. (regional, western Germany, less commonly) to pinch

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Romansch

Alternative forms

• (Sursilvan) pign
• (Sutsilvan) pintg

Etymology

From Late Latin pitinnus (compare French petit, from Gallo-Romance *pitittus).

Adjective

pitschen m (feminine singular pitschna, masculine plural pitschens, feminine plural pitschnas)

1. (Rumantsch Grischun, Surmiran, Puter, Vallader) small