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LOL, I never knew this.

Katrina Mosshammer (AERC # 5763)

Pumpernickel

The Philologist Johann Christoph Adelung states about the Germanic origin of 
the word, in the vernacular, Pumpen was a New High German synonym for being 
flatulent, a word similar in meaning to the English "fart", and "Nickel" was 
a form of the name Nicholas, an appellation commonly associated with a 
goblin or devil (e.g., "Old Nick", a familiar name for Satan), or more 
generally for a malevolent spirit or demon. Cf. also the metal nickel, 
probably named for a demon that would "change" or contaminate valuable 
copper with this strange metal that was much harder to work. Hence, 
pumpernickel is described as the "devil's fart", a definition accepted by 
the Stopes International Language Database,[2] the publisher Random 
House,[3] and by some English language dictionaries, including the 
Merrian-Webster Dictionary.[4] The American Heritage Dictionary adds "so 
named from being hard to digest."

The Oxford English Dictionary, however, does not commit to any particular 
etymology for the word. It suggests it may mean a lout or booby, but also 
says, "origin uncertain". The OED currently states the first use in English 
is from 1756. However, there is an earlier use. An 8 page drinking song 
titled "Beef and Butt Beer, against Mum and Pumpernickel" was published in 
London in 1743.[5]

There is, as well, an often quoted story of how Napoleon while invading 
Germany was brought dark German rye bread for dinner. He declared that he 
wouldn't eat it and said instead: "C'est pain pour Nicole!". In other words, 
it wasn't for him but for his horse, Nicole. "Pain pour Nicole" over time 
became Pumpernickel. However, according to The Straight Dope, the Napoleon 
story is an example of folk etymology.[6]


--------------------------------------------------
From: "Bruce Weary" <bweary@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 3:16 PM
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [RC] Trivia

>  The correct answer is, yes, it discouraged the horses who had learned to 
> climb stairs.
>
> It's also why the firemen kept the beer and TV upstairs. The horses would 
> otherwise get a little too rowdy and watch the Mr. Ed marathon 'til all 
> hours of the night.    Dr Q
>
>
>   Next trivia question: What are two interpretations of how "pumpernickel" 
> bread was named, one of which is related to horses?
>
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