Balg

See also: balg

German

Etymology

From Middle High German balc, from Old High German balg, from Proto-West Germanic *balgi.

Words for inflated objects are often used to refer to children; compare western German Panz (“child”), which is related with Pansen (“rumen”).

Cognates

Cognate with Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌻𐌲𐍃 (balgs, “wineskin”), Dutch balg, English belly, bellows. Compare also Russian балка (balka, “thick plank”), Slovene blazina (“cushion”), Avestan 𐬠𐬀𐬭𐬆𐬰𐬌𐬱 (bar^əziš, “cushion, cover”), Persian بالش (bâleš, “pillow”), Armenian բարձ (barj), Old Prussian balsinis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /balk/
• IPA^(key): /balç/ (northern and central Germany; now chiefly colloquial)

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -alk

Noun

Balg m (strong, genitive Balges or Balgs, plural Bälge or Balge)

1. (hunting) the hide of a small animal, such as a fox, hare, or bird, which is pulled off as one
2. (technology) short for Blasebalg (“bellows”), used especially with musical instruments, such as the accordion
3. (botany) follicle

Derived terms

• balgen
• Blasebalg

Noun

Balg n or m (strong, genitive Balges or Balgs, plural Bälger)

1. brat (a selfish, spoiled, or unruly child)

   Synonym: Göre

Usage notes

• Usually neuter in this sense.

Derived terms

• Wechselbalg

Further reading

• Balg on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^de
• “Balg” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Balg (Tierhaut, Luftsack)” in Duden online
• “Balg (Kind)” in Duden online