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Dutch gold

American  

noun

Sometimes Offensive.
  1. an alloy of copper and zinc in the form of thin sheets, used as an imitation of gold leaf.


Dutch gold British  

noun

  1. another name for Dutch metal

"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

Sensitive Note

Dutch gold is not really gold. Because Dutch is used to mean “inauthentic” or “fake,” the term is sometimes perceived as insulting to or by the Dutch. See also Dutch.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In the women’s race, Manganello, in the final contest of her career, won bronze behind Dutch gold medalist Marijke Groenewoud and Canada’s Ivanie Blondin.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 21, 2026

The image of Dutch gold medalist Anna van der Breggen, silver medalist Emma Johansson and bronze medalist Elisa Longo Borghini chasing her down certainly made for captivating television.

From US News Aug. 9, 2016

Women had taken to wearing "clumsy blouses," Dutch gold currency had gone up, prices had fallen and Artist Covarrubias was distressed to find hard times even in this paradise.

From Time Magazine Archive

Dutch gold leaf is only copper colored with the fumes of zinc.

From Paper and Printing Recipes A Handy Volume of Practical Recipes, Concerning the Every-Day Business of Stationers, Printers, Binders, and the Kindred Trades by Ford, J. Sawtelle

His secrétaire had been plundered of a very large sum, amongst which were Dutch gold ducats—purchased by Destouches only the day before—of the value of more than 6000 francs.

From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 442 Volume 17, New Series, June 19, 1852 by Chambers, William

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