Luxemburger Wirtshausnamen

Abstract This study deals with a rarely discussed lexicological and semantic issue, Luxemburgish names of inns. I was astonished by their large number and their diversification. In the Middle Ages, many people could not read, therefore an inn was indicated by a sign, for instance that of a raven that gave it its name. The name of the inn could give its situation in the village in order to help foreigners to find their way, for instance “At the market”. I examine historical relations, too, like “way of the Romans” and, on the other hand, names of animals, such as “At the raven”. Last not least I have discovered funny names like “kitchen of the devil” and original names, for instance ”Why not?” or “The peppercorn”. I don’t neither forget a very old house name, “Plutoshaff”, founded in the eighteenth century by Franz Plutot, a personality of the village.