Etymology

blitz

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Today it means: A sudden attack, especially an air raid; usually with reference to the Blitz. Full definition →

German Blitzkrieg
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blitz · noun, verb1

  1. German · derived fromBlitzkrieg
  2. English todayblitz

Pseudo-Germanism, derived from a clipping of blitzkrieg, from German Blitzkrieg (literally “lightning war”). The German word Blitz (“lightning”) lacks the "sudden attack" senses that the English word has.

Blitz · proper noun2

Specific use of blitz. The Blitz was in truth not a blitzkrieg, which is a rapid ground offensive based on superior tank forces. However, the word was current at the time for the successful German campaigns in Poland and France, and was transferred to the attacks on Britain, perhaps by association of Blitz (“lightning”) with the bombings.

Words from the same roots

GermanBlitzkrieg all →

blitzkrieglightning war

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.