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

Inflected Forms

noun

• Dutchmen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Dutchman

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

Example Sentences

The Dutchman joked: "When the lights go out, wait one second. That's my advice."

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

He and Verstappen were separated by just 0.001secs after their first runs in the final session and Antonelli said he had produced a "magic lap" to beat the Dutchman.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

The Reds announced Slot's exit on Saturday, a year after the Dutchman guided them to the Premier League title, and have moved swiftly to bring in a successor.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

The Dutchman, 47, won the Premier League title in his first campaign but was dismissed by the club's hierarchy after the Reds finished fifth in the league this season, 25 points behind champions Arsenal.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

He was Cain, Ulysses, the Flying Dutchman; he was Lot in Sodom, Deirdre of the Sorrows, Sweeney in the nightingales among trees.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller