Bolzen

German

Etymology

From Middle High German bolz, from Old High German bolz, from Proto-Germanic *bultaz. Compare Dutch bout, English bolt, Danish bolt, Icelandic bolti.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈbɔlt͡sn̩]

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Bolzen m (genitive Bolzens, plural Bolzen)

1. bolt (cylindrical pin)
2. bolt (crossbow projectile)

Usage notes

Not used in most of the other senses of the English word bolt, specifically almost never for a threaded fastener. The distinction between screws and bolts that exists in English (though it is much more tenuous than what standards attempt to uphold through definitions that in fact often violate common usage), does not exist in German, and both screws and bolts are called Schrauben.

Further reading

• “Bolzen” in Duden online