Schöffe

German

Alternative forms

• Schöppe, Schöpfe (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle High German scheffe, scheffene, from Old High German sceffino. Cognate with Dutch schepen and borrowed Latin scabinus (whence French échevin). The alternative forms Schöppe and Schöpfe, which were widely used in writing until the 19th century, are due to influence by the verb schöpfen (Central German schöppen).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃœfə/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Schöf‧fe
• Rhymes: -œfə

Noun

Schöffe m (genitive Schöffen, plural Schöffen, female Schöffin)

1. (Germany, Austria, and generally) a lay judge, an assistant judge
2. (Belgium, Luxembourg) a deputy mayor (for French échevin)

Usage notes

• See Wikipedia for the system of lay judges in Germany.

Synonyms

• (lay judge): Gerichtsschöffe; Laienrichter

Further reading

• “Schöffe” in Duden online