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Author
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Comment
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aka
Greensleeves
Registered User
(10/13/03 1:27 pm)
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Rumpelstiltskin--meaning of the name?
Hello--I am new here, but I've been lurking for a while. Great site--everyone
is very thoughtful and supportive.
I am hoping someone can shed some light on something for me--I've
been having a heck of a time finding information on the word rumpelstiltskin
(or rumpelstilzchen, if you prefer)--I know this is the
German name for a character that has other names in other cultures,
but I was wondering if it means anything, or if it is more-or-less
a "nonsense" word.
Anybody have any info on this?
Thanks very much!
Stephanie
in the prairie
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duglis
Registered User
(10/22/03 5:27 am)
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-
I honestly think it is a made-up nonsense name.
-Doug
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Valkith
Registered User
(10/26/03 11:34 am)
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Re: Rumpelstiltskin--meaning of the name?
The (or one of the) original names for the story was Tom-Tit-Tot by Joseph Jacobs.
I believe that Doug is right.
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Quinnlove
Registered User
(10/27/03 10:42 am)
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Re: Rumpelstiltskin--meaning of the name?
(I'm new, but I hope I can be of some little help.)
The OED gives the following citation, which from your post I assume you've already seen:
[i][ad. G. [b]Rumpelstilzchen[/b].][/i]
The name of a vindictive dwarf in German folk-tale, used allusively.
[i]1949 G. ORWELL Nineteen Eighty-Four II. 181 A little Rumpelstiltskin figure, contorted with hatred. 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 21 Feb. 5/2 A hunch that computerized direct marketing would become the Rumpelstiltskin of American politics in the 1970s.[/i]
Maybe a German etymological dictionary would shed some light on the question?
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Peter
Unregistered User
(10/30/03 7:52 am)
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Possible origin
Here's a possible lead from SurLaLune’s “History of Rumpelstiltskin” page:
www.surlalunefairytales.c...story.html
“Rumpelstiltzkin's name and story appears to have been around for centuries. The earliest known version of the tale has been traced back to Johann Fischart's adaptation of Book 1 of Francois Rabelais' (1494?-1553) Gargantua, Geshichtkitterung also known as Gargantua and Pantagruel which was published in 1575-1590. The 363rd amusement given in the book is titled "Rumpele stilt oder der Poppart.”
Peter
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aka
Greensleeves
Registered User
(11/14/03 5:27 pm)
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Re: Possible origin
Peter, thanks for the link! I had read that before, but for whatever reason, it didn't sink in until you posted it here!
It led me on a little hunt of my own, and this is what I've come up with:
The line from Fischart translates to "Rumpelstiltskin or the Poppart," which is a game played still in parts of Germany.
And according to a German friend of mine....
"'rumpeln' means 'to make a noise', 'to be noisy'. In the Elsaß
area a 'Stilzer' was someone with a limp, The archaic German word
'Stülz' also means 'lame' or 'with a limp'. So, Rumpelstilzchen
is a Poltergeist (noisy imp) with a limp. This information is based
on the Duden, Germany's big authority on anything to do with the
language. "
And there you have it!
Stephanie
in the prairie
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