Truthahn
German
Etymology
Compound of trut + Hahn (“rooster”). The first element is either imitative of the turkey’s call to its young (cf. the etymology of Pute) or alternatively from Middle Low German drōten (“threaten”), improperly adapted to High German, in reference to the male Turkey’s aggressive-seeming behaviour.[1][2]
Pronunciation
Noun
Truthahn m (genitive Truthahnes, plural Truthähne, female Truthenne)
- male turkey
Usage notes
- There are two independant sets of synonyms for the “turkey”: Truthuhn (species), Truthahn (male), Truthenne (female) versus Pute (species and female), Puter (male). The commonest use is Pute for the species and female, but Truthahn for the male.