Panzer
Panzer /ˈpænzər/ (German pronunciation: [ˈpantsɐ] ⓘ) is a German word that means armour. It is also used by German-speakers as an abbreviation meaning "armoured fighting vehicle" or tank (the military vehicle). The full German word for "armoured combat vehicle" is Panzerkampfwagen. The word Panzer is occasionally used in English and some other languages as a loanword in the contexts of The German military.
Use
It is mostly used in the proper names of military formations ([Panzerdivision] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), ‘panzer division’, 4th Panzer Army, etc.), and in the proper names of tanks, such as Panzer IV, etc.
Origin
The dated but official German term is [Panzerkampfwagen] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), ‘tank’ or literally ‘armoured combat vehicle’ (the modern commonly used synonym is [Kampfpanzer] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), or just [Panzer] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)). The first German tank, the A7V of 1918, was referred to as Sturmpanzerwagen (roughly, "armoured assault vehicle").
The German word [Panzer] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) refers to any kind of armour, as in [Plattenpanzer] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), ‘plate armour’, [Kettenpanzer] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), ‘mail’, or generally [gepanzert] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), ‘armoured’. The word also refers to an animal's protective shell or thick hide, as in [Schildkrötenpanzer] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), ‘turtle shell'. Steel electrical conduit is called [Stahlpanzerrohr] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), literally "steel armour pipe". Bulletproof glass is called Panzerglas, literally "armoured glass". It derives through the French word [pancier] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), ‘breastplate’, from Latin [pantex] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), ‘belly, paunch’,[1] and is possibly related to [panus] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), ‘swelling’.[2]
See also
References
- ^ Harper, Douglas. "panzer". Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ^ Harper, Douglas. "paunch". Online Etymology Dictionary.