zerfleddern

Meaning

to damage something delicate, chiefly a book or piece of paper, by handling it uncarefully; to tatter

Concepts

tatter

get tatty

Synonyms

zerfetzen

zerreißen

Translations

abîmer

esquinter

estropear

Etymology

Late 18th century, of dialectal, especially East Central German, origin, from zer- + fled(d)ern, the latter from Middle High German vlëderen (“to flutter”), related with flattern, Fledermaus. The form with -dd- may be expressive or due to shortening before -er- (as in Hammer, Mutter, Widder etc.).