kraut
kraut Lexical Profile
kraut Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Finely shredded cabbage that has been fermented in brine; sauerkraut (used informally).
"He ordered a grilled bratwurst topped with spicy mustard and a generous scoop of kraut."
A German person, especially a German soldier during World War I or World War II (used as a disparaging and offensive term).
"Old wartime propaganda posters frequently used derogatory terms like kraut to depict enemy soldiers."
Word Nuance & Usage
While completely benign in culinary contexts as an informal shortening of 'sauerkraut', 'kraut' (often capitalized) is an offensive, derogatory ethnic slur when used to refer to a German person, originating as wartime slang during World War I and World War II.
• Rhymes for kraut
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from German Kraut ('herb, plant, cabbage'), shortened from Sauerkraut ('sour cabbage'); the derogatory sense referring to German people arose in the mid-19th century and became widespread among Allied soldiers during World War I.