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schli·ma·zel also shli·ma·zel

(shlĭ-mäzəl)

n.
Slang

An extremely unlucky or inept person; a habitual failure.

[Yiddish shlimazl, bad luck, unlucky person : Middle High German slimp, wrong + Yiddish mazl, luck (from Late Hebrew mazzāl; see MAZEL TOV).]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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