Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Notable Words - Yurtmeister

Spotted in The Week magazine, December 14, 2012.

yurt (yûrt)
n. A circular, domed, portable tent used by nomadic peoples of central Asia. [Russian yurta, of Turkic origin.]

Meister means master in German (as in master craftsman or as an honorific title, such as Meister Eckhart). It is akin to maestro. Meister has been borrowed into English slang, where it is used in compound nouns. Such compounds denote a person's expertise in a specified art, skill, or profession. A person referred to as blank meister is one that has extensive theoretical knowledge and practical skills in their profession, business concerns and training. Typically the blank is filled in with a word that describes the particular skill set the person in question is an expert in, (for example, a puzzle meister would be someone aptly skilled at completing puzzles). These neologisms sometimes have a sarcastic intent (for example, "stubblemeister" for someone with a short, neat beard (heard on BBC TV or "criermeister" for someone who often cries (American slang).

According to The Week, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has yurts available as an alternative to traditional lodging. These yurts come with yurtmeisters who plan menus, cook and clean.

Great idea ... except for those who like to be meisters of their own herrschaftsgebiet.

Definitions via thefreedictionary.com

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