Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun obsolete The
misuse orabuse ofmilitary authority ;bullying .
Etymologies
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From the German name for Saverne, a town in Alsace. Originated from an incident in 1912 involving an overzealous soldier who wounded a cobbler for smiling at him, ultimately triggering an intervention from the army who took over the power from local authorities.
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Examples
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sionnach commented on the word zabernism
the unjustified use or abuse of military or police authority.
March 25, 2008