zabernismhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zabernism_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezabernism, n.
First published 1986; not fully revised

† zabernismnoun

Obsolete.
  1. 1916–21
    The misuse of military power or authority; bullying, aggression (see quot. 1921).
    1. 1916
      There can rarely..have been a better example of the insolence of Zabernism than the ‘rounding up’ of crowds of unoffending people at the stations.
      Daily News 6 September 4
    2. 1918
      The acquisitive commercialists and financiers of Germany—the Zabernism of industry and l.s.d.—were up to the eyes in it [sc. the war].
      19th Century December 992
    3. 1918
      Both countries have been slaves to Kruppism and Zabernism.
      H. G. Wells, In Fourth Year iii. 36
    4. 1920
      The advance of the Government troops into the Ruhr district, coupled with a marked exhibition of ‘Zabernism’, has stiffened the Spartacist resistance.
      Glasgow Herald 7 April 8
    5. 1921
      Zabernism (hist.), military jackbootery. From an incident at Saverne (Ger. Zabern) in Alsace (1912), when an excited Ger. subaltern cut down a lame cobbler who smiled at him.
      E. Weekley, Etymological Dictionary of Modern English 1658/2

zabernism, n. was first published in 1986; not fully revised.

zabernism, n. was last modified in December 2024.