Ersatz is a German word literally meaning inferior substitute or replacement. Ironically the word was popularised in the English language during the war with Germany when coffee was scarce and ersatz coffee (made with all sorts of things!) replaced the real thing becaue of rationing.
I knew the German word but I didn't know about its use in English. Interesting.
ReplyDelete... oh, got a really good Word Verification here: "brain" !