Pöll

Pöll

See also: poll, Poll, póll, and põll

Central Franconian

Alternative forms

• Pell (western and central Moselle Franconian)

Etymology

Uncertain, though a relation with Latin pullus (“chick”) is very suggestive. The feminine would point to pulla (“young hen”), but since hens are of much greater interest in poultry keeping than roosters, a development “chicken” → “hen” is always likely. The phonetically exact form (Middle High German *pülle) could be derived from the Latin masculine plural pullī. Romance origin is also suggested by the restriction to western dialects. At any rate the same word as Luxembourgish Pëll (“young hen”), and Dutch pul (“young duck”) from early modern Dutch pulle (“young hen”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pøl/

Noun

Pöll f (plural Pölle, diminutive Pöllche)

1. (western and central Ripuarian) pullet; young hen
   • From a popular carnival song by Nico Ploum from Kerkrade:

     Vir haue hei ene Hohnderstall met alles staatse Pölle.
     Do fählet noch ene forsche Hahn, dän saue vir wall wölle.

     We have a chickenhouse here with all-handsome pullets.
     What’s missing is a sturdy rooster, that’s one we would like.

2. (the same dialects, mildly vulgar) young, usually attractive girl; chick
   • From the same song, punning on the former sense:

     Dröm seng ich hei vür alle Lü, besongesch vür de Pölle:
     Met Fastelovend mat üch Spass en losst de Lü mar lölle!

     Therefore I’m singing here for all people, especially the chicks:
     Have fun on carnival and just leave people gabble!