Schwarte
/ˈʃvaʁtə/noun
A German word for the rind or tough outer skin of pork, and sometimes the bark or outer covering of a tree.
Did you know?Schwarte belongs to the same ancient Germanic word-family as English “sward,” the grassy skin covering the earth, and “swart,” meaning dark or dusky.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*swarthō
“Skin, rind, or outer covering; also associated with dark coloration”
Old High German
OHG
swarta
“Rind, outer skin, or hide”
Middle High German
MHG
swarte
“The tough outer skin or rind of an animal or plant”
Early New High German
German
Schwarte
“Pork rind or a thick outer layer, with the spelling influenced by German sch- for the /ʃ/ sound”
Modern German
German
Schwarte
“Pork rind, thick animal skin, or bark-like outer covering”