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Why Are People From The Netherlands Called Dutch?A demonym is any name derived from a place that helps describe people who live there. Californians are people who live in California. Frenchmen live in France. And so on. But what about the demonyms that are seemingly random? How the heck did people from the Netherlands become the Dutch, for example? Where Dutch came from Before we dig into this demonym, there are three terms …
Idioms
go Dutch, Sometimes Offensive. to have each person pay his or her 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
1350–1400; Middle English Duch < Middle Dutch duutsch Dutch, German(ic); cognate with Old High German diutisc popular (language) (as opposed to learned Latin), translation of Latin (lingua) vulgāris popular (language)
Related formspre-Dutch, adjectivepseu·do-Dutch, adjective
Usage 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for dutches
He received grace there from the dutches of Newcastle, I remember he tolde me.
Brief Lives (Vol. 1 of 2)|John AubreyColonel Popham's great tankard, the dutches Y: dranke it (almost) off at a draught.
Brief Lives (Vol. 2 of 2)|John AubreyHe was preferred to the first dutches of Richmond to wayte on her as a page.
Brief Lives (Vol. 1 of 2)|John AubreyHe heard the screams of boys who were already in the dutches of the tyrant.
August Strindberg, the Spirit of Revolt|L. (Lizzy) Lind-af-Hageby
British Dictionary definitions for dutches (1 of 2)
dutch
/ (dʌtʃ) /
noun
Cockney slang wife
Word Origin for dutch
C19: short for duchess
British Dictionary definitions for dutches (2 of 2)
Dutch
/ (dʌtʃ) /
noun
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
Idioms and Phrases with dutches
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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.