First recorded in 1830–40; so called from the shape of the flowers
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Norway maple is an invasive plant that has escaped from cultivation to displace sugar maple and shade to death spring wildflowers such as Dutchman’s breeches, dog-tooth violet and mayapple.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 8, 2019
"Yes, I see a piece of blue big enough for a Dutchman's breeches so I think the rain is over, but you'd better put on your rubbers, Molly."
From Three Little Cousins by Blanchard, Amy Ella
“Well,” Gladys defended herself, “Katherine said there was enough blue to patch the Dutchman’s breeches and―” “But it was you who said that was enough to start out on,” retorted Katherine.
From The Campfire Girls on Ellen's Isle The Trail of the Seven Cedars by Frey, Hildegard G. (Hildegard Gertrude)
Lessons similar to that on the trillium may be based on adder's tongue, Indian turnip, Dutchman's breeches, violet, and clover.
From Ontario Teachers' Manuals: Nature Study by Ontario. Ministry of Education
Some of them, such as the Dutchman's breeches and the bluebell, have gone, like the beautiful children who died when life was young.
From Some Summer Days in Iowa by Lazell, Frederick John
Mr. Chris said Dutchman’s-breeches had such bad fruit for cows to eat that their summer name was “little blue staggers.”
From "Miracles on Maple Hill" by Virginia Sorensen
He could tell things apart that looked exactly alike to Marly—at least for a while—like Dutchman’s-breeches and squirrel com, and Solomon’s seal and twisted-stalk with their tiny bells, and violets!
From "Miracles on Maple Hill" by Virginia Sorensen
Her sisters bring the gifts—Spring, wind-flowers, Solomon's-Seal, Dutchman's-breeches, Quaker-ladies, and trailing arbutus, that smells as divinely as the true May.
From Letters of Travel (1892-1913) by Kipling, Rudyard
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
