zappenduster

Compound of Zappen (“cone”) +‎ duster (“dark”). The first component points to Zapfenstreich (“curfew, last post”), but may also be based on Hebrew צָפוֹן‎ (tsafón, “north, hence midnight”). Both words have probably contributed, it being unknown which is original and which secondary.

• IPA^(key): /ˌtsapənˈduːstɐ/

• Audio

  (file)

zappenduster (strong nominative masculine singular zappendusterer, not comparable)

1. (colloquial) completely dark, pitch-black (night)
   • 2017, Sven Regener, Wiener Straße‎, Kiepenheuer & Witsch, →ISBN:

     Die Tür fiel zu und es war zappenduster.

     The door fell shut and it was pitch black.

Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value)

• “zappenduster” in Duden online