schnitzel n.

surname, German, literally "tailor" (equivalent to English Snyder), from schneiden "to cut" (see schnitzel). As a verb meaning "to defeat thoroughly," it appears to be from the game of skat, 1885, where it describes an emphatic way of winning (another way is known as a Schwartz, another German surname). It is attested in German as a skat term by 1860.

In all simple bids, a player proposes to win the game, that is, make at least sixty-one points. With a strong hand he may bid to Schneider his opponents ; that is to prevent them from making thirty points. ["Trumps," "The American Hoyle," New York: 1885]

1690s, "a fight with knives," from snick-or-snee (1610s) "to thrust and cut in knife-fighting," also snick-a-snee, snick-and-snee, which is suspected to be Englished from a Dutch phrase (early English uses typically are in a Dutch context). Compare Dutch steken "to thrust, stick" (see stick (v.)) + snee "a cut, slice" (compare German Schneide "edge"), which is related to snijden "to cut" (compare German schneiden; see schnitzel). Modern English also borrowed snee as "a large knife."