Kabuff

Probably derived from Middle Low German kabūse (“shed”) (compare Kombüse) through conflation with another word, which may either Dutch kombof (“hovel”) or one from the root of German Koben (“stable, shed”). Commonly associated with Rotwelsch, and possibly spread by it.

• IPA^(key): /kaˈbʊf/

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

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Kabuff n (strong, genitive Kabuffs, plural Kabuffe or Kabuffs) (informal)

1. (somewhat derogatory) small room or compartment (typically dark, stuffy and of small size)
   • 1905, Heinrich Mann, Professor Unrat oder Das Ende eines Tyrannen‎^[1], Leipzig: Kurt Wolff Verlag, page 194:

     Jetzt hatte sie eine Masse Unfug getrieben, Unheil angestiftet, und Unrat konnte sich, in fassungsloser, martervoller Rachgier, nichts Ersehnenswerteres mehr vorstellen, als daß die Künstlerin Fröhlich in einem tiefen und finstern Kabuff ihr Leben enden möge.

     Now she had done a lot of mischief, caused harm, and Unrat, in his utter, agonizing thirst for revenge, could not imagine anything more desirable than having the artist Fröhlich end her life in a deep, dark, small room.

   • 1953, Erich Wildberger, Ring über Ostkreuz, Rowohlt, page 13:

     In dem Kabuff, wo die drei Damen sitzen, ist immer sehr schlechte Luft.

     In the tiny room the three ladies were sitting in, the air was always very stuffy.

2. storage compartment, broom closet (small room used to store tools or items)

   Synonyms: Abstellkammer, Besenkammer

   • 2016, Gerhard Branstner, Der Sternenkavalier, →ISBN:

     Um ihn darin nicht zu stören, hielt As des Weiteren den Mund, holte einen Liegestuhl aus dem Kabuff, stelle ihn auf dem anderen Ende des Raketendachs auf und machte es sich darin bequem.

     Such as to not disturb him in this, As shut up from then on, got a deck chair out of the storage compartment, set it up at the other end of the spaceship roof and made himself comfortable in it.

• Kombüse

• “Kabuff” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Kabuff” in Duden online