קלעצל

Yiddish

Etymology

Diminutive of קלאָץ (klots), i.e. קלאָץ (klots) +‎ ־ל (-l) with formation of umlaut. Compare German Klötzlein, Klötzchen.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɫɛt͡sɫ̩/

Noun

קלעצל • (kletsl) n, plural קלעצלעך (kletslekh)

1. block (of wood)

   Synonyms: קלעצעלע (kletsele), קלאָץ (klots)

2. hub (of wheel)

   Synonyms: ראָדקלעצל (rodkletsl), בוקשע (bukshe), קאָפּ (kop)

3. spool

   Synonyms: שפּולקע (shpulke), קאַטושקע (katushke), ציפֿקע (tsifke)

4. sugar cube

   Synonym: קאָסקע (koske)

Derived terms

• בוליאָן־קלעצל (bulyon-kletsl)
• צונויפֿשליס־קלעצל (tsunoyfshlis-kletsl, “interlocking block”)

References

• Schaechter-Viswanath, Gitl; Glasser, Paul (2016), “קלעצל”, in Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary, Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press