[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] -The Sharp Judge-

[Otto]

We need some German relatives to join in this conversation. . . How  
about it?

    -SCHARFRICHTER-    A composite word.

The problem is undoubtedly created by an unfamiliarity with German  
composite words.  The piecing together of words to make one read like  
a run-on sentence.
The way to tackle meaning is to deconstruct the word into individual  
parts, then define the parts.

metzger = butcher  (or meat-cutter)
metzgerei = butcher's shop

schlacht = battle
In German warfare, a battle is called a schlacht. ( a butchery)
We are a bit more euphemistic with our language and refer to it as a  
'battle'.
So.. a schlachter is a butcher.  (note-this possesses a different  
connotation than 'metzger'.)
schlachter = butcher, or the one doing the actual killing.

Scharfrichter
Kind of gives indication of an occupation in a specific time frame of  
history that has meaning carried over into generalized use.
I sort of lean to the 'sharp judge' being an axe... or the swinger of  
it.  The guillotine became popular during the French Revolution.  It  
also was a 'sharp judge' - Both methods were a bit on the messy side,  
what with all the clean-up afterwards.
The guillotine made many judgments under national socialism.
knecht = an assistant used for unskilled details. A laborer.
scharf = sharp
richter = judge
richten = to arrange, usually by law.
scharfrichter = executioner

hingerichtet = executed
hingrichter = hanging judge

. . .But, then again, I've been wrong before.


...  Otto

   " The Zen moment..." wk. of September 4, 2005-
        ________________________________
"The past, as the present...Always under construction."