Trust me, it’s not as weird as it may sound.
Oh, my, I just had a deep-seated neuron jangled tonight while about halfway through reading the rather dark novel A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews, a Canadian of Low German descent. “Please don’t schput, Ray would say.”
When over a period of years I compiled my list of Plattdeutsch (Low German) terms handed down in the family lexicon at the end of this site’s Dirks-Dueck page, I omitted this term because it’s been so long since I heard it. However, once I read it tonight, a host of memories crowded in of Dad saying that he or someone was “just making Schput.”
That is, loosely translated, just making fun/a joke. Perhaps a native speaker can shed more light on a more literal translation.
family janzen 
Mary hons,
I asked my support group tonight about the word schput. It seems that the Germans from Germany, (Ernie), the Low Germans and the HIgh Germans and the Schweitzedeitch from Moundridge all use this word. I know I grew up with this word as we used it often at home. By the way I read “A Complicated Kindness” by Miriam Toews.
This term was used by my grandparents who were first generation Luxembourgers. It had the same meaning as used here. It is a great word.
Hello! I’m Mary Elizabeth Dirks (born in Moses Lake WA in ’59). I’m the daughter of Waldo W. Dirks. His father was William Peter Dirks, whose father was Peter Dirks. I believe that Peter and Heinrich were brothers, which makes us cousins.
I’ve enjoyed reading the info and seeing the photos you’ve managed to acquire.
If you’d like to contact me, please feel free to do so via email.
~Mary
I found myself using “schput” in conversation at work today and drawing blank looks from my non-Menno colleague. With no idea how this word entered my lexicon, I first speculated that it was Yiddish word I’d picked watching old school borchst-belt comedians on TV in the 60’s and 70’s. Thanks to this page I can properly attribute it to my ancestors. I grew up in Hesston, KS (7 miles from Moundridge). My Grandpa George grew up Amish in a Pennsylvania Dutch household, and my dad Wayne (Druber of donut fame in Newton, KS) occasionally spiced up his conversation with words like “schput” from his boyhood. With my Dad gone 7 years now, and Grandpa gone 45, I can’t tell you how happy I am to have made this connection at the ripe age of 57!
Hi, Karl. I lived in Newton for many years (I’m now 52), my Mom taught at Hesson College in the ’70s, and I was a frequent Druber’s customer! Mom’s comment above about her “support group” refers to retired, mostly Menno, friends at Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton who get together in the lobby every evening and talk about anything and everything. I’ve now lived central in PA for 22 years, but I’ve not heard anyone making Schput here.
Note: The original post referred to my lexicon being on the Dirks-Dueck page; however, after that, I made Family Lexicon a separate page available in the top menu.
My family has used this word my entire life and I just turned 50. I’ve said it so many times I front of my friends and have had to explain it and proud to do so. One of my favorites!