vergattern

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɛɐ̯ˈɡatɐn/, /fɐ-/

Etymology 1

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle High German vergatern (“to assemble”), a chiefly Central German word alongside Middle Low German gāderen. Cognate to Dutch vergaderen, English forgather. In a military context the word originally meant “to line up troops and issue the orders”. It may later have been associated with Gatter (“grating, fence”), thus “to give someone a boundary that must not be transgressed”. Compare etymology 2 below.

Verb

1. (military, transitive) to officially commit a soldier to sentry duty and to the respective regulations

   Nachdem der Soldat vergattert worden ist, muss er sich unter allen Umständen an die Wachbefehle halten.

   When a soldier has been officially committed to sentry duty, he must observe the orders to sentry under any circumstances.

2. (colloquial, transitive, with zu) to impose a duty or punishment on someone

   Meine Mutter vergattert mich immer zum Rasenmähen.

   My mother always makes me mow the lawn.

Derived terms

• Vergatterung

Etymology 2

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle High German vergetern, derived from gater (“grating, fence”), whence modern Gatter (“idem”). The modern verb form without umlaut through adaptation to the noun.

Verb

1. (transitive) to barricade; to separate with a grating or fence