Other Definitions
lapp (dict)
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LappThe abbreviation Lap(p) has been used to abbrevate peoples in Northen Scandinavia who call themself Sapmi (sing.) or Sabme or Same (plur.). It corresponds to Sami or Saami. It is unknown how the Lapp comes into Norse language, but it seems to be introduced by the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus to distinguish between Fish-Fennians (Coast peoples) and Lap-Fennians (Forest peoples). It was popularized and became standard abbreviation by the work of Johannes Schefferus "Acta Lapponica" (ca 17th c.), but is also used earlier by Olaus Magnus in his '"Description of the Northen peoples" (ca 16th c.). There is another suggestion that it originally meant wilds. In lack of meaning one may take the interpretation made by Damianus Gos in 1540, where he derives Lapland from "the dumb and lazy land", because it is lazy when no vegetables grow and therefore is dumb when it serves for no living. Note that Lap and Lapland sometimes have the meaning 'exotic' in Central Europe. However, it is today considered to be a disparaging and offensive term, since it actually means "uncivilized", "fool" or "dumb", or at least sounds very derogatory in Saami languages. See also: Sami peoples
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