Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Mar 16 02:47
1 mo ago
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German term
"Schwalben"
German to English
Social Sciences
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
From a letter, written in 1939 by a Jewish woman in Vienna to her sister in New York:
Wie steht es bei Euch mit “Schwalben”? Gibt es die bei Euch auch? Wir haben so ziemlich Ruhe, wenn man ihnen gehörig an den Leib rückt, was Frau Messias wunderbar versteht. Sie stellt unter einen Bettfuß ein Lavoir und gießt von oben in die Fugen und die Scharniere (event. Bett auseinandernehmen) kochendes Wasser, und was drin gewesen sein sollte, fällt unbedingt heraus.
She puts the word Schwalben in quotation marks, so she apparently isn't talking about swallows (birds). It would make more sense to me if she had said "Schaben" (or some other insect) that could inhabit a bed and be killed by pouring boiling water over them! Any idea what might have been meant here?
Wie steht es bei Euch mit “Schwalben”? Gibt es die bei Euch auch? Wir haben so ziemlich Ruhe, wenn man ihnen gehörig an den Leib rückt, was Frau Messias wunderbar versteht. Sie stellt unter einen Bettfuß ein Lavoir und gießt von oben in die Fugen und die Scharniere (event. Bett auseinandernehmen) kochendes Wasser, und was drin gewesen sein sollte, fällt unbedingt heraus.
She puts the word Schwalben in quotation marks, so she apparently isn't talking about swallows (birds). It would make more sense to me if she had said "Schaben" (or some other insect) that could inhabit a bed and be killed by pouring boiling water over them! Any idea what might have been meant here?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +1 | Bedbug |
Martina Kilgo
|
| 3 | 'dive-bomb' creepy crawlies |
Adrian MM.
|
Proposed translations
+1
21 mins
Martina Kilgo
United States
United States
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English
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Native in: German 
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Selected
Bedbug
There is actually a parasite called “Schwalbenwanze.” It is a blood sucking parasite. I found some information about it at the website of Mietlexiokon.de. You are correct, this lady was referring to an insect/parasite in her letter.
They are called Schwalbenwanze, because they get into homes from swallow’s nests, where they in the absence of their usual host (the swallow) can also infest humans.
They are called Schwalbenwanze, because they get into homes from swallow’s nests, where they in the absence of their usual host (the swallow) can also infest humans.
Example sentence:
Die Schwalbenwanze ist ein Parasit der zum Überleben auf einen Wirt angewiesen ist.
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Comment: "Thank you!"
14 hrs
Adrian MM.
Austria
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'dive-bomb' creepy crawlies
To retain the imagery in inverted commas, plus the present-day football > AmE soccer metaphor of 'eine Schwalbe' - a deliberate dive - in and around the penalty area - to attract a direct free kick or, more often than not, a penalty kick. Well-known exponents of the art shall remain nameless.
Example sentence:
These crawlers are everywhere. They’re on your windows, on your porch, and in your kitchen. They often dive-bomb at people.
Reference:
http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2021-04-01/just-who-are-these-dive-bombers/59092
http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2021-04-01/just-who-are-these-dive-bombers/59092
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