Friday, 31 May 2019

Beaut words: Schtarka

also schtarker, shtarka, shtarker, shtorikue, starker[Yid.]

1. a strong, brave man (occas. woman), an important person (esp. used ironically).
2. a thug, a hoodlum.

In a series of interviews he seemed to me a redeeming thug, a man creating himself by merging traits of biblical heroes, charismatic rabbis and the shtarkers of Brownsville's Murder Incorporated.
New York Times, March 6, 1994

  

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Capitalisation of spiritual terms