knibbeln

German

Etymology

Originally, and still chiefly, West Central German. Supposed to belong to knüpfen, regionally knüppen (“to knot”); but given the fact that the dialectal forms invariably have -bb- or -ww- a relation with knabbern (“to nibble”) seems much more likely.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈknɪbəln/

Verb

1. (regional, chiefly western Germany) to scrape with one’s fingernails so as to remove something (e.g. a price tag)

Synonyms

• abkratzen
• kratzen
• piddeln (also West Central German)

Derived terms

• abknibbeln