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schmaltz - 3 dictionary results

schmaltz

[shmahlts, shmawlts]
–noun
1. Informal. exaggerated sentimentalism, as in music or soap operas.
2. fat or grease, esp. of a chicken.
Also, schmalz.


Origin:
1930–35; < Yiddish shmalts or G Schmaltz; c. smelt 1
schmaltz also schmalz   (shmälts)   
n.  
  1. Informal
    1. Excessively sentimental art or music.
    2. Maudlin sentimentality.
  2. Liquid fat, especially chicken fat.

[Yiddish shmalts, animal fat, sentimentality, from Middle High German smalz, animal fat, from Old High German; see mel-1 in Indo-European roots.]

schmaltz 
"banal or excessive sentimentalism," 1935, from Yiddish shmalts, lit. "melted fat," from M.H.G. smalz, from O.H.G., related to smelzan "to melt." Modern Ger. Schmaltz "fat, grease" has the same figurative meaning. First mentioned in Eng. as "a derogatory term used to describe straight jazz" ["Vanity Fair," Nov. 1935].
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