Neidbau

German

FWOTD – 8 January 2015

Etymology

Neid (“envy”) +‎ Bau (“building”). Spelled neydpau, the term was used in the laws of Munich as early as 1489; it was used in the laws of Hamburg as early as 1603.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈnaɪ̯tbaʊ̯]
• Hyphenation: Neid‧bau

Noun

Neidbau m (genitive Neidbaus or Neidbaues, plural Neidbauten or Neidbaue)

1. spite house; a structure built primarily to harass or harm a neighbour (which is therefore generally illegal to construct)
   • 1489, Das Stadtrecht von München:

     Item neydpau, die ainem schaden prächten, sollen verpoten sein, und sollen die pauleut dieselben neydpau abzuerkennen und darynne nach gelegenheit der Sachen allwegen zu entschaiden macht haben.