Schlemihl

[Stefan Matzig]

In German, a Schlemihl (Schlemiel) is an unlucky fellow who despite a string of personal desasters remains patient, even optimistic. It's this characteristic that makes Schweijk a Schlemihl. Also see Adalbert von Chamisso's phantastic novella of the man who sells his shadow to the devil, "Peter Schlemihl's wundersame Geschichte" (ca. 1810). St.


-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von:	davemarc [SMTP:davemarc at panix.com]
Gesendet am:	Donnerstag, 10. August 2000 05:13
An:	Pynchlist
Betreff:	Re: Schlemihl

Get ready for a paradigm shift, KXX.  According to Chapman's American Slang,
it means "A stupid person; fool; oaf; esp, a naive person often victimized."
You know--like a schmendrick.

d.