Schnösel

19th century, from Low German Snösel, Snäsel (18th c.). The sense “snotnose”, which Pfeifer considers original, is of very limited attestation and not mentioned at all by early sources such as the Low German dictionaries of Dähnert (1780) and Schütze (1806). Nevertheless it is plausible to associate the onset S(ch)n- with words like Schnabel (“beak”, cf. Grünschnabel), Schnute (“snout”), Schnodder (“snot”, cf. schnodderig). The latter portion of the word seems to be derived from, or at least influenced by, Low German unnösel (cognate of Dutch onnozel). This adjective has a variety of negative meanings ranging from “naive, silly” to “brazen, ill-mannered”,^[1] all of which fit the sense “presumptuous young man” well. Cognate with Dutch sneuzel (“greenhorn”), which is a recent acquisition from eastern dialects, however.

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃnøːzəl/, [ˈʃnøː.zl̩]

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Schnösel m (strong, genitive Schnösels, plural Schnösel) (derogatory, colloquial)

1. (originally) a young man who is brash and presumptuous
2. (now more often) dandy, snob, someone conceited, smug, unctuous (of any age)

   Synonyms: Fatzke, Geck, Lackaffe, Popanz, schmieriger Typ, feiner Pinkel

   • 2016, Juli Zeh, Unterleuten, Luchterhand, →ISBN:

     »Und was hat der Schnösel aus Ingolstadt damit zu tun?«, fragte Norbert. »Dem du gleich ein paar mitgeben wolltest?« Darüber hatte Kron lange nachgedacht. Fest stand, dass es zwischen dem Schnösel und Gombrowski eine Verbindung geben musste.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

• schnöselig

• “Schnösel” in Duden online
• “Schnösel” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache