Dutchman

American  

[duhch-muhn] / ˈdʌtʃ mən /

noun

• Dutchmen
  plural

1. a native or inhabitant of the Netherlands.

2. (lowercase) a piece or wedge inserted to hide the fault in a badly made joint, to stop an opening, etc.

3. Theater. a narrow strip of canvas to conceal the join between two flats.

4. Slang: Sometimes Offensive. a term used to refer to a German.

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Dutchman British  

/ ˈdʌtʃmən /

noun

1. a native, citizen, or inhabitant of the Netherlands

2. a piece of wood, metal, etc, used to repair or patch faulty workmanship

3. derogatory an Afrikaner

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Sensitive Note

As used to refer to a German, the term Dutchman was originally standard English. But around the time of World War I, it became a slang term of contempt for the enemy. Its use nowadays is still sometimes perceived as insulting.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Dutchmen
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of Dutchman

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at Dutch, man

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Dutchman Dutchmen

The Orange Order is an pro-British organisation that takes its name from William of Orange, the Protestant Dutchman who seized the English, Scottish and Ireland throne from Catholic King James II in 1689.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

Over the first half of the season, Hadjar was 0.239 seconds slower than Verstappen on average in qualifying and has managed to out-qualify the Dutchman three times, in Australia, Japan and Britain.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Van Duijvenbode's next opponent will be fellow Dutchman Gian van Veen, who was beaten by Littler in January's World Championship final.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

The 19-year-old, seeking his second World Series Finals victory after 2024, recently whitewashed the Dutchman, who is a former UK Open champion, 6-0 on his way to winning the Czech Darts Open.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

For a while, they eats and I eat and we are all genial; them asking me questions and me telling them stories as to how I’m a honest Dutchman new come from the Antilles.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Italians, Dutchmen, Belgians, and a smattering of others combined to produce one of the most thrilling one-day races in recent memory.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

But then I remembered I did dance to the Six Fat Dutchmen in the ninth grade.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2025

“In Amsterdam, housing is dense, and the openness of the beach is very healing,” said Posthumus, who owns two bars in the city, Flying Dutchmen Cocktails and Dutch Courage.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 6, 2022

A keen university rower, the 22-year-old Henri Peteri had heard of fellow Dutchmen trying to escape to the UK by fishing boat.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2021

Dad would rub imaginary spray out of his eyes, and scan the horizon for possible sperm whale, Flying Dutchmen, or floating ambergris.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

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