Together with its continuation, the Neunaugengasse (Lamprey Lane), the Tagnetergasse is first recorded in 1378 as "platea apud sanctum Johannem" (the street near St. John's). In 1415 and 1416 it was called "Czwernegasse" (Thread Lane). After this name was transferred in the 15th century to the Belgardsche Gasse opposite, across the Breitgasse -- today's Zwirngasse -- the lane adopted its current name from the Neunaugengasse, where it already appears in 1415 as "Tendelmarkt" (Trinket Market). For a time the name seems to have been used for both lanes together. From the 17th century onward, it became established in its present extent as "Tagnetergasse" or "Kleine Vendet" (Little Flea Market), in distinction from the "Große Vendet" or "Tagnete" located at the Kohlenmarkt.

What "Tagnete" or "Vendet" means is well known: it refers to the flea market or second-hand market. Less clear is the derivation and the relationship of both expressions to each other. Frischbier, in his Prussian Dictionary, traces both to the French root "vendette" (retail sale), which supposedly entered Polish as "wendeta" or in its more common form "tandeta" and then found its way into German in the Kashubian form "tangneta."

This explanation, however, is incorrect. As the form "Tendelmarkt" reveals, both words have two different roots: the German "Tand" (trinkets, trifles, junk) and the French "vendette," which was in use alongside it as a foreign word. The latter is found as a designation for the flea market not only in German port cities but also in Copenhagen, and likely reached the north and east through Dutch intermediation. Both expressions were borrowed from German into Polish-Kashubian, and from the latter the form "Tagnete" -- with its Kashubian nasal consonant -- migrated back into the local dialect.

History