An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schlaraffe

by Friedrich Kluge

Schlaraffe, m., ‘sluggard, lubber,’ for earlier ModHG.. Schlauraffe, which is met with as late as the first half of the last cent.; from MidHG. slûr-affe (sluder-affe), ‘luxurious, thoughtless idler, sluggard,’ recorded in the 14th cent., and certainly of not much earlier date; the latter term is from MidHG. slûr, ‘sluggishness, lazy person,’ see schleudern, schlummern. The first detailed description of Schlaraffenland, of which the earliest mention is made in the 15th cent., was given in a farce by Hans Sachs in 1530 A.D.