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schlemiels - 2 dictionary results

schle⋅miel

[shluh-meel]
–noun Slang.
an awkward and unlucky person for whom things never turn out right.
Also, schle⋅mihl, shlemiel.


Origin:
1890–95; < Yiddish shlemil < Heb shəlumīʾēl Shelumiel, a Biblical and Talmudic figure
schle·miel also shle·miel   (shlə-mēl')   
n.   Slang
A habitual bungler; a dolt.

[Yiddish shlemíl, perhaps from Hebrew šəlūmî'ēl, my well-being is God, Shelumiel (a character in the Bible, Numbers 7:36) : šəlūmî, my well-being (šālôm, well-being; see šlm in Semitic roots + , my) + 'ēl, God; see l in Semitic roots.]
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