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Numerous references, including one in our newest JOURNAL, spells the traditional German hunting greeting WEIDMANNSHEIL rather than WAIDMANNSHEIL that we see used so often in current German hunting articles. I have 2 different pre-1945 Bierkrugs (beersteins) that have WEIDMANNSHEIL on them adding authenticity to the use of the E rather than the A in the spelling before 1946. I am aware that different words in the German language changed in how they were spelled during the 1910-25 period. Perhaps this is one of those words. Can anyone fill me in? Thanks, Jim Cate
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In Germany there is an age-old and endless debate about the correct spelling of the syllable "Wa/eid-", if it refers to and means "hunting-". That syllable is not only limited to "Waidmannsheil", but also occurs in many other words: f.i. Waidmann = hunter, Waidmesser = hunting knife, waidlaut = an over-eager dog barking without reason, waidwund = an a wounded animal shot through the intestines. Doebel, 1746, wrote "Weid-", Diezel, 1849, "Waid-", Corneli, 1884, "Waid-", v.Raesfeld, 1898, "Weid-", Löns, 1911, "Waid-", Frevert, 1936, "Waid-". Over the years the heated debate filled many issues of German hunting papers, philologists insisting on "Weid-", traditionalists on "Waid-". The consensus (if there is any) nowadays: Both spellings are deemed correct and may be used to your liking. I myself keep to my grandfather's habit.
Waidmannsheil!
Axel -
Danke, Axel!.......an the beat goes on......Gruesse, JIMComment
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