שלימיל
Yiddish
Etymology
Unknown. One proposed etymology is that it comes from Hebrew שלא מועיל (“who is not helpful”), though such an etymology would be expected to yield *shloyml or *shlemoyl. Another is that it comes from the Biblical figure Shelumiel ben Tzurishadai, though it is unknown how he would have come to be associated with bungling.[1]
Noun
שלימיל • (shlimil) m
- ineffectual, inept person, bungler
Descendants
- → Dutch: schlemiel
- → English: schlemiel
- → German: Schlemihl
- → Hebrew: שלומיאל (shlumiél)
References
- Balashon - Hebrew Language Detective - shlemiel