Where does “schmuck insurance” come from?

schmuck insurance (English) comes from English schmuck, from Yiddish שמאָק, from Old Polish smok — dragon.

schmuck insurance (English): The situation where an owner sells a company but retains a portion in case the price appreciates in the future

Definitions

  1. The situation where an owner sells a company but retains a portion in case the price appreciates in the future

Ancestry of “schmuck insurance”, step by step

schmuck insurance traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English schmuck

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishschmuckA jerk; a person who is unlikable, detestable, or...
2Yiddishשמאָקidiot; dick; dupe
3Old Polishsmokdragon

via English insurance

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishinsuranceA means of indemnity against a future occurrence...
2EnglishensuranceObsolete form of insurance
Every word from Old Polish smok →Every word from Yiddish שמאָק →Every word from English schmuck →