schrokken

Schrokken is a Dutch verb meaning to eat or drink quickly and greedily, often without taking time to savor. The term emphasizes speed and a lack of attentiveness to quality or social etiquette, and it can carry a slightly negative or humorous tone depending on context. It is typically used to describe the manner of consumption rather than the substance itself.

Usage and nuance: Schrokken describes how something is eaten, not what is eaten. It is common in everyday speech and can also be used metaphorically to indicate rapid absorption of information or experiences, rather than food alone. The word tends to imply haste, impoliteness, or a sense of being rushed, rather than deliberate savoring.

Etymology and related terms: The word is of Dutch origin. It is related to other Germanic-rooted terms for biting or snapping, though precise derivation is not always specified in concise references. Related Dutch terms include smullen, which denotes eating with relish or savoring flavor, often viewed as the opposite of schrokken in social contexts.

See also: Smullen; etiquette at the table; mindful eating.