An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schönbartspiel

by Friedrich Kluge

Schönbartspiel n., ‘mummery, carnival play,’ a corruption of MidHG. schëmebart, m. (also schëme-houbet), ‘mask,’ connecting the word with the adj. schön; schëmebart is prop. ‘bearded mask,’ from MidHG. schëme, m., ‘shadow, mask.’