Help with German military terms

[NurgleHH]

I think over the years the language of the Saxons in England drifted away from the northern germans (and the rest of germany). For example the word “little” came from the word “Litt” or “Lütt” in the northern german. In Germany now it is “klein”. So over 1000 years changed a lot of the words. Old words like “sword” stay near - in German “Schwert” (Or Bogen” close to “Bow” and “Shield” to “Schild”). I wonder if it is possible to find the roots in English. Is it only the “upper class”-words in official language like Laws coming from Norman language?

[Blackwolf]

The word meet certainly has a Germanic root.

[Captain Blood]

Is it only the “upper class”-words in official language like Laws coming from Norman language?

Pretty much anything serious or official from any organisation that thinks of themselves as serious or official
It's a fascinating reminder of our history on these islands and still persists after 1,000 years, which I find quite incredible. Read almost any long, official piece of writing from almost any 'establishment' body in the UK, and you'll still find it stuffed with long words (and long sentences) derived from Norman French. It's the formal written language of English.
On the other hand, listen to any conversation amongst ordinary Brits in the supermarket or pub, and you'll virtually never hear those words actually spoken - they're all speaking the everyday language instead, using everyday words which are overwhelmingly derived from the Anglo-Saxon.

Sod all to do with wargaming, but interesting nonetheless, non?

[Blackwolf]

  funny man Richard 

[Michi]

Also he always told me that un- is Germanic and in- Latin/French origin. For example unbelievable (ger. origin) and inconvenient (lat. Origin).

German substantives today: Unbill, Unhold, Ungeheuer, Unmut, Unzeit,...
German adjectives today: ungenau, unheimlich, unerfreulich, unsäglich, unaufrichtig,...

I guess he was right... 

[Westfalia Chris]

German substantives today: Unbill, Unhold, Ungeheuer, Unmut, Unzeit,...
German adjectives today: ungenau, unheimlich, unerfreulich, unsäglich, unaufrichtig,...

I guess he was right... 

Pretty much so, cf. adjectives of Latin origin, e.g. inkontinent, inoperabel... I'll suspect it will be similar in other non-romanic languages that borrow words from Latin.

[Michi]

Pretty much so, cf. adjectives of Latin origin, e.g. inkontinent, inoperabel... I'll suspect it will be similar in other non-romanic languages that borrow words from Latin.

Really? I was born north of the Limes - what is Latin?

[tomrommel1]

Michi , I think Latin are the "sounds" our ancestors used to draw our swords to . At least north of the Limes that is...

[Michi]

Michi , I think Latin are the "sounds" our ancestors used to draw our swords to . At least north of the Limes that is...

 

[Westfalia Chris]

Really? I was born north of the Limes - what is Latin?

Nekulturny barbarians, all of you. 

[Hammers]

Interesting that in the Germanic / Scandinavian languages, words similar to Knight / Knechte ('Cniht' in Old English) are all broadly similar, coming from a root word meaning 'lad' or 'servant' - which somehow evolved over the centuries into the very different accepted meaning of a professional fighting man of rank.
Whereas in the Romance languages there's a much more obvious etymological root from 'horseman' - hence chevalier, caballero, cavaliere etc., (and indeed 'cavalier' in English).
I guess this root is not dissimilar from the Roman 'equites' for the 'knightly' class of lower order bigwigs.
The Germans have the best of both worlds with 'Ritter / Reiter' from 'rider' (or horseman again).

In Sweden, "riddare" means "knight", both in the sense of a nobleman and a (heavily) armed rider. "Ryttare" means any sort of horse rider, military or civilian.
"Knekt" is the name we use, especially nowdays, for a lowly footman or common conscript.

I suppose we got these terms from German during medieval times. In old norse the term for an armed (bold) rider would be "ballriða" and a (sworn) warrior is "väring".

[Plynkes]

Hey, as you make your way into your mid-fifties it won't be long before you qualify as 'Old Norse' yourself, H.   




(Sorry - From a man who only has two days of being in his 40s left to savour and is rather conscious of age right now.)

[janner]

The earliest use of cnihtas to describe armed retainers appeared in the Laudian version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (composed c.1100), it was not seemingly established in England until around 1300.

[NurgleHH]

In Sweden, "riddare" means "knight", both in the sense of a nobleman and a (heavily) armed rider. "Ryttare" means any sort of horse rider, military or civilian.
"Knekt" is the name we use, especially nowdays, for a lowly footman or common conscript.

I suppose we got these terms from German during medieval times. In old norse the term for an armed (bold) rider would be "ballriða" and a (sworn) warrior is "väring".

I think “riddare” is “Ritter” in german, in german no difference between mounted or not mounted. And “Knekt” is used for a) “Waffenknecht” military or b) farmers helping Hand “Knecht”. So the tongue of the Swedish Vikings (Hammers) and the north german Saxon (nurglehh) has big similarities    Another word really the same e.g is Ikea