Dutch

[ duhch ]

adjective

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

of, relating to, or characteristic of the Pennsylvania Dutch.
Archaic. German; Teutonic.

noun

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

Also called Netherlandic . the Germanic language of the Netherlands and northern Belgium. Abbreviations: D, D.: Compare Flemish.
Obsolete. the German language.

Idioms about Dutch

go Dutch, Sometimes Offensive. to have each person pay their own expenses: a dinner where everyone goes Dutch.: Also go dutch .
in Dutch, Sometimes Offensive. in trouble or disfavor (with someone): in Dutch with the teacher for disturbing the class.

Origin of Dutch

First recorded in1350–1400; 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)”

usage note For Dutch

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 words from Dutch

pre-Dutch, adjective
pseudo-Dutch, adjective

Words Nearby Dutch

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Dutch in a sentence

Standing before the camera, she alternately whips the wires overhead like a lasso and then rotates them like she’s playing a solo game of double Dutch.
The aurora borealis skipped this Alaska photography class. But some swinging light cords saved the night. | Bailey Berg | February 26, 2021 | Washington Post
BUX, a Dutch brokerage, said it was onboarding three times as many new customers during the GameStop controversy.
The American pastime of retail trading is going global thanks to GameStop | John Detrixhe | February 12, 2021 | Quartz
Folding bike manufacturer Gocycle says it sold out of its electric bikes it produced in 2020, while Dutch e-bike maker VanMoof announced the largest jump in sales it’s seen this past year.
E-Bikes Are Taking Off—But We Need to Make Space for Them | Patrick Lucas Austin | January 22, 2021 | Time
In a large, heavy pot such as a Dutch oven, over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil until shimmering.
Hearty winter vegetables are at the root of this red wine chicken stew | Ellie Krieger | January 21, 2021 | Washington Post
In a Dutch oven over high heat, heat half of the oil until shimmering.
Find out why Anthony Bourdain’s boeuf bourguignon is one of our most popular recipes ever | Becky Krystal | January 20, 2021 | Washington Post

Between June and October 1943, 4,283 British, 1,303 Dutch, 1,630 Australian, and 88 American soldiers died.
Riding Thailand’s WWII Death Railway | Liza Foreman | December 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“We are not proponents of Dutch citizens getting involved in the struggle,” says Bahoz Derik of the Dutch Kurdish FedKom network.
Dutch Biker Gangs Vs. ISIS | Nadette De Visser, Christopher Dickey | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Dutch and German motorcycle gangs got a lot of publicity saying they were fighting against the so-called Islamic State in Syria.
Dutch Biker Gangs Vs. ISIS | Nadette De Visser, Christopher Dickey | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Indeed, a common racial slur in Dutch is, precisely, roetmop, which means soot mop.
Dutch Try to Save Santa’s Slave | Nadette De Visser | December 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“Because Dutch people have these childhood memories, they cannot see Black Piet for what it is,” says Bergman.
Dutch Try to Save Santa’s Slave | Nadette De Visser | December 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Mrs. Woodbury paints in oils and water-colors; the latter are genre scenes, and among them are several Dutch subjects.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D. | Clara Erskine Clement
She did her work at a most interesting period in Dutch painting.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D. | Clara Erskine Clement
The stratagem worked, because the ships went about from one tack to the other without being seen by the Dutch.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624 | Various
The vessel escaped miraculously, with sails torn by shots from three Dutch vessels, which they took for one of their own.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624 | Various
The fire crackled around the Dutch ovens, and the odor of coffee came floating by.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair

British Dictionary definitions for dutch (1 of 2)

dutch

/ (dʌtʃ) /

noun

Cockney slang wife

Origin of dutch

C19: short for duchess

British Dictionary definitions for Dutch (2 of 2)

Dutch

/ (dʌtʃ) /

noun

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

See Pennsylvania Dutch
See double Dutch
in Dutch slang in trouble

adjective

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

adverb

go Dutch informal to share expenses equally

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with Dutch

Dutch

In addition to the idioms beginning with Dutch

Dutch courage
Dutch treat
Dutch uncle

also see:

beat all (the Dutch)
double Dutch
in Dutch

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