Where does “zugzwang” come from?
zugzwang (Dutch) comes from German Zugzwang, from German Zwang, from Middle High German twanc, from Old High German geduang, from Proto-West Germanic þwangi, from Proto-Germanic þwangiz, from Proto-Indo-European twenk- — to press, squeeze; to squeeze, press, pressure.
zugzwang (Dutch): zugzwang situation in which a disadvantageous move is forced on a player
Definitions
- zugzwang situation in which a disadvantageous move is forced on a player
Ancestry of “zugzwang”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Zugzwang | zugzwang; situation where somebody is forced to... |
| 2 | German | Zwang | compulsion, obligation |
| 3 | Middle High German | twanc | — |
| 4 | Old High German | geduang | — |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | þwangi | belt, strap, thong |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | þwangiz | belt, strap, thong; clamp |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | twenk- | to press, squeeze; to squeeze, press, pressure |