Switzer
/ˈswɪtsər/noun
A Swiss person; now chiefly historical or dialectal, especially in older English.
Did you know?The English word Switzer comes from the German name for Switzerland, Schweiz, ultimately tied to the canton of Schwyz, whose name became the label for the whole country.
Etymological Timeline
Old High German / Early Medieval
OHG
Swīz
“A form associated with the people of Schwyz, a canton in central Switzerland”
Middle High German
MHG
Swīzer
“An inhabitant of Schwyz; by extension, a Swiss person”
Late Medieval German
German
Schweiz
“The country name Switzerland, developed from the canton name Schwyz”
16th Century
English
Switzer
“A Swiss man; especially a Swiss mercenary or guard”
Modern English
English
switzer
“A Swiss person, now mostly historical or dialectal”