spiel

Meanings

Noun

• A lengthy and extravagant speech or argument usually intended to persuade.
• An early form of rap music.
• A game of curling.

Verb

• To talk at length.
• To give a sales pitch; to promote by speaking.

Origin

• Borrowed from German Spiel ("game, performance") and/or Yiddish שפּיל, both from Middle High German spil, from Old High German spil, from Proto-West Germanic *spil.
• Cognate with Old English spilian ("to revel, play"). See speel.
• From the Scots spiel ("game, play; curling match") from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German spel.