Yiddish Shmiddish

Comments on Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
#1

From <a href=“http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/myiddish.html">"Yiddish, shmiddish–why do we repeat a word but start it with “shm-”?”</a>

I’m reasonably certain that “schmuck” is not of Yiddish origin. I suspect Italian slang, or something, but I have been unable to find it in any good Yiddish lexicon.

(And I don’t count Leo Rosten’s “Joys of Yiddish” as a GOOD Yiddish lexicon.)

#2

This has also been posted in the forum “Comments on Staff Reports” where it belongs, since it is a staff report rather than one of Cecil’s columns. Read it here: Yiddish Shmiddish

Therefore, I am closing it in this forum.