kraut
UK[kraʊt]US[kraʊt]
n
Sauerkraut, a German dish of finely chopped, fermented cabbage.
n
(Offensive slang). A derogatory term for a German person.
Etymology
The English word "kraut" is a direct borrowing from the German "Kraut," which means "herb" or "plant." Its specific culinary application in English, "sauerkraut," is a shortening of the German "Sauerkraut," literally meaning "sour herb" or "sour cabbage." The derogatory slang sense for a German person, originating in the early 20th century, is a metonymic extension based on the stereotypical association of Germans with eating sauerkraut. This journey from a general term for vegetation to a specific food item and then to an ethnic slur demonstrates how loanwords can acquire complex and culturally charged meanings.
Analysis
This is a loanword from German. The German word "Kraut" originally meant "herb" or "plant" and is related to the Old High German "krūt" and the Proto-Germanic "krūdą" (plant, herb). In English, it functions as a simplex noun.
Examples
He ordered a sausage with a side of hot kraut.
The recipe calls for two pounds of fermented kraut.
The use of the term "kraut" as an ethnic slur is considered highly offensive.