Pfaffe
German
Etymology
From Middle High German pfaffe, from Old High German pfaffo, phaffo, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin, from Ancient Greek παπάς (papás). Cognate to Dutch paap.
Noun
Pfaffe m (genitive Pfaffen, plural Pfaffen)
- (now derogatory) cleric, clergyman
Usage notes
The term was originally neutral, but since about the time of the Reformation it ceased to be used with any positive tone; usage today is derogatory.
Declension
Synonyms
References
Categories:
- German terms inherited from Middle High German
- German terms derived from Middle High German
- German terms inherited from Old High German
- German terms derived from Old High German
- German terms derived from Latin
- German terms derived from Ancient Greek
- German lemmas
- German nouns
- German masculine nouns
- German derogatory terms