| 4th Cuirassier | 22 Aug 2017 4:42 a.m. PST |
Does anyone understand how 'King' Tiger entered the lexicon? The G7es acoustic torpedo was called by the Germans the Zaunkönig, which is the German word for wren.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wren The German word Bartgeier is another zoological term for a bird, this time the Eurasian griffon vulture:
link The German word Königstiger is the zoological term for this species:
link When they are translated at all, Zaunkönig is normally correctly rendered as 'wren', and not as 'fence king', which is what it literally means. Bartgeier means 'beard vulture' but everyone calls it the griffon vulture. How did we come to translate the German word Königstiger, which is the zoological term for this species:
link as 'King Tiger'? Does it just sound cool? |
| advocate | 22 Aug 2017 5:44 a.m. PST |
Because 'König' is the German word for 'King'? |
| advocate | 22 Aug 2017 5:45 a.m. PST |
And the wren is, of course, the king of the birds.
link |
LeonAdler  | 22 Aug 2017 6:16 a.m. PST |
And there was already a Tiger so big brother needed a new name?
L |
| deephorse | 22 Aug 2017 7:28 a.m. PST |
Regardless, Königstiger was entirely unofficial, first being used in January 1945. |
| jdpintex | 22 Aug 2017 9:12 a.m. PST |
Because the first GI who saw one couldn't use "OH $*!%" in his report? |
| emckinney | 22 Aug 2017 9:12 a.m. PST |
Because it was translated by Americans who were fairly fluent in German, but not enough to know the name of every exotic animal. And because calling something that huge "King" makes perfect sense, especially for Americans very familiar with the Tyrannosaurus Rex (King of the Dinosaurs, right?). |
| Jakar Nilson | 22 Aug 2017 11:18 a.m. PST |
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| FABET01 | 22 Aug 2017 12:49 p.m. PST |
Too bad they didn't call it "King Kong". RKO could have sued them and the war in Europe would have been over in 44! |
| Skarper | 22 Aug 2017 8:39 p.m. PST |
I guess we all know "Königstiger" translates as bengal tiger. [4th link in OP] The British called it a 'Royal Tiger' didn't they? Didn't know Königstiger was unofficial. Did it have an official name like Tiger and Panther or was it just Tiger II? |
| Old Contemptibles | 22 Aug 2017 9:10 p.m. PST |
I have heard a few US Vets call it the Royal Tiger and Tiger Royal. |
| Trierarch | 22 Aug 2017 11:15 p.m. PST |
In Normandy it was a "Streamlined Tiger" to the Brits |
| deephorse | 23 Aug 2017 5:23 a.m. PST |
Official name started as Tiger II, shortly replaced by Tiger ausf. B. |
