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.

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Dutch gold British  

noun

1. another name for Dutch metal

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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

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

The Plauen Reichsbank also contained 17 bags of U.S. gold dollars, 1 million Swiss gold francs, 151,560 Norwegian gold kroner, 22 bags of silver German coins, and 98,450 Dutch gold guilders.

From Washington Post

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

And so Captain Jones of the Mayflower was bribed by Dutch gold to play false with the band of Pilgrims.

From The Landing of the Pilgrims by Zyve, Claire Turner