verbverb

stutzen

trim

The verb stutzen has two primary meanings in German:

To trim or prune: This refers to cutting something back to make it shorter, neater, or more uniform. It is commonly used when talking about cutting the ends of hair, trimming a hedge, or shortening the wings of a bird.
To be startled or taken aback: This describes a sudden moment of hesitation, surprise, or bewilderment. A person "stutzt" when they stop what they are doing because they have noticed something unexpected, strange, or confusing.

Grammar: It is a weak verb. The conjugation follows the standard pattern: stutzen (infinitive), stutzte (past tense), hat gestutzt (past participle).
Word origin: The word is of Middle High German origin (stutzen), related to the Low German stut (a stump or shortened part).
- In the sense of "trimming," it refers to making an object "stump" or shorter.
- In the sense of "being startled," it historically referred to the physical reaction of drawing back or stopping abruptly, similar to how an animal might stop and prick its ears when sensing danger.