Dutch

[duhch]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the natives or inhabitants of the Netherlands or their country or language.

2. pertaining to or designating the style of painting and subject matter developed in the Netherlands during the 17th century, chiefly characterized by the use of chiaroscuro, muted tones, naturalistic colors or forms, and of genre, landscape, or still-life subjects drawn from contemporary urban and rural life.

3. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Pennsylvania Dutch.

4. Archaic.,  German; Teutonic.

noun

1. the people of the Netherlands and their immediate descendants elsewhere, collectively.

2. Pennsylvania Dutch.

3. Also called Netherlandic. the Germanic language of the Netherlands and northern Belgium. D, D.

4. Obsolete.,  the German language.

Dutch

¹

/ dʌtʃ /

noun

1. the language of the Netherlands, belonging to the West Germanic branch of the Indo-European family and quite closely related to German and English See also Flemish Afrikaans

2. (functioning as plural) the natives, citizens, or inhabitants of the Netherlands

3. See Pennsylvania Dutch

4. See double Dutch

5. slang,  in trouble

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Netherlands, its inhabitants, or their language

adverb

1. informal,  to share expenses equally

dutch

²

/ dʌtʃ /

noun

1. slang,  wife

Sensitive Note

The idioms go Dutch (related to Dutch treat ) and in Dutch (which uses Dutch to mean “trouble”) are both sometimes perceived as insulting to or by the Dutch. In addition, the adjective Dutch is found in a few other set phrases ( Dutch courage, Dutch gold, and Dutch uncle ) in which it implies that something Dutch is not authentic. Although insulting a particular person or nationality may be unintentional, it is best to be aware that use of these terms is sometimes perceived as offensive to or by the Dutch.

Other Word Forms

• pre-Dutch adjective
• pseudo-Dutch adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Dutch¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English Duch, from Middle Dutch duutsch “Dutch, German(ic),” Old High German diutisc “popular, vulgar (language)” (as opposed to learned Latin), translation of Latin (lingua) vulgāris “popular (language)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Dutch¹

C19: short for duchess

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go Dutch, to have each person pay their own expenses: Also go dutch

   a dinner where everyone goes Dutch.

2. in Dutch, in trouble or disfavor (with someone).

   in Dutch with the teacher for disturbing the class.

More idioms and phrases containing Dutch

• beat all (the Dutch)
• double Dutch
• in Dutch

Example Sentences

She examined the ticket: first-class passage on the Royal Amsterdam, the finest Dutch clipper ship to sail the northern waters, leaving promptly at ten o’clock!

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Regardless, we lived at Dutch Run until I became a toddler.

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Then, in the 1980s, local divers stumbled upon it but misidentified it as a Dutch merchant ship.

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That bold move had resulted in Nexperia effectively being cut into two – separating Dutch operations from its Chinese manufacturing.

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The two pieces were played by Dutch organist Ton Koopman, who said he was proud to be able to perform them for the first time in 320 years.

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