fattiga riddare

Swedish

Etymology

Compound of fattiga (“poor”) +‎ riddare (“knights”). Calque of German Arme Ritter. Ultimate origin unknown. Possibly, according to Alexandra Zazzi via Svenska Akademin, from a distinguished exterior hiding a meager interior. According to SAOB attested since 1848.

Cognate with English poor knights of Windsor.

Noun

fattiga riddare c

1. French toast

   Synonyms: arma riddare, falska riddare

Descendants

• → Finnish: köyhät ritarit (calque)

See also

• rika riddare (“richer French toast”)

References

• Alexandra Zazzi (actor) (2012 September 29), 01:15 from the start, in Fattiga riddare - för både rika och fattiga‎^[1] (in Swedish): “I Svenska Akademin har de lite konstnärlig tolkning att "det torde avse kontrasten mellan ett förnämnt yttre och därunder dolt tarftig innehåll". ― In the Swedish Academy, they have a somewhat artistic interpretation that "it should refer to the contrast between a distinguished exterior and hidden meager content below".”
• riddare in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)