What's a mutzer?

[Wanda Van Winkle]

You never know what someone else knows until you ask.

Michael's mother came from Hungarian heritage. Unfortunately, she died many years ago and is not here to ask.

She used to call their cat kitty-mutzer, emphasis on MUT, which rhymes with put (like put your hand in my hand).

It could just be an affectionate term, or it could have originated in another language. His grandmother did speak Hungarian and so his mother knew some, also.

Any Hungarians out there who can answer this question? Any language buffs who might have heard the word in another language? We cannot find it on the net.

[Cindi Hammons]

I looked up the word on a search engine and found lots of German last names or Street names. In using my German dictionary, I found that mut means courage or bravery. My guess is that mutzer was a nickname for someone who is outgoing/brave or your family's precocious little dog. At first I thought maybe the word was Yiddish, but I got nowhere on that. I don't think the word is Hungarian. It doesn't look like it or sound like it. The roots are more Germanic.

Cindi not an expert in any shape or form.

[Billie Goodson]

muksó is a Hungarian word for cat...not sure if they (Hungarians) do the same thing with words that we do -- like doddle and doddler...

[Wanda Van Winkle]

muksó is a Hungarian word for cat...not sure if they (Hungarians) do the same thing with words that we do -- like doddle and doddler...

Thanks to both of you. I'll show the forum to Michael. This one sounds quite feasible. I agree. It does sound more German.