Genick

From Middle High German genicke, collective of nac, nacke (whence modern Nacken). The -i- can be explained from underlying *genecke through influence of nicken (“to nod”). Alternatively, Middle High German genicke could be derived from the e-variant in Dutch nek, English neck (which is not attested in High German, however). Cognate with Hunsrik Gnick.

• IPA^(key): /ɡəˈnɪk/

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Ge‧nick
• Rhymes: -ɪk

Genick n (strong, genitive Genicks or Genickes, plural Genicke)

1. nape of the neck

   Synonym: Nacken

2. (specifically) the joint portion of the neck which joins the vertebrae (which has no regularly used English name)

   Synonym: Kopfgelenk

   • 1997 August 22, “Eifersucht”, in Sehnsucht, performed by Rammstein:

     Bin ich schöner? / Zerschneid mir das Gesicht / Bin ich stärker? / Brich feige mein Genick / Bin ich klüger? / Töte mich und iss mein Hirn

     Am I prettier? / Cut my face into pieces / Am I stronger? / Cowardly break my upper spine / Am I smarter? / Kill me and eat my brain

• “Genick” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.
• “Genick” in Duden online
• “Genick” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
• “Genick”, in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache‎^[1] (in German)
• Genick on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^de