noun
or spätz·le ˈshpetslə, -lē
( plural spaetzle or spaetzles or spätzle or spätzles )
Etymology: German dialect (Alemannic) spätzle, diminutive of spatz sparrow, dumpling, from Middle High German, sparrow, from spar, spare sparrow (from Old High German sparo ) + -tz, hypocoristic suffix (from Old High German -izo ) — more at sparrow
: the strings and lumps that result when a batter made of eggs, milk, flour, and salt is run through a coarse colander into boiling liquid and that when cooked are used as additions to gravy, goulash, or other stews