Dutch

[ duhch ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the natives or inhabitants of the Netherlands or their country or language.
2. pertaining to or designating the style of painting and subject matter developed in the Netherlands during the 17th century, chiefly characterized by the use of chiaroscuro, muted tones, naturalistic colors or forms, and of genre, landscape, or still-life subjects drawn from contemporary urban and rural life.
3. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Pennsylvania Dutch.
4. Archaic. German; Teutonic.

noun

1. the people of the Netherlands and their immediate descendants elsewhere, collectively.
2. Pennsylvania Dutch.
3. Also called Netherlandic. the Germanic language of the Netherlands and northern Belgium. : D, D. Compare Flemish.
4. Obsolete. the German language.

dutch

¹

/ dʌtʃ /

noun

1. slang.
   wife

Dutch

²

/ dʌtʃ /

noun

1. the language of the Netherlands, belonging to the West Germanic branch of the Indo-European family and quite closely related to German and English See also Flemish Afrikaans
2. the Dutch
   functioning as plural the natives, citizens, or inhabitants of the Netherlands
3. See Pennsylvania Dutch
4. See double Dutch
5. in Dutch slang.
   in trouble

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Netherlands, its inhabitants, or their language

adverb

1. go Dutch informal.
   to share expenses equally

Sensitive 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.

Other Words From

• pre-Dutch adjective
• pseu·do-Dutch adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Dutch¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English Duch, from Middle Dutch duutsch “Dutch, German(ic),” Old High German diutisc “popular, vulgar (language)” (as opposed to learned Latin), translation of Latin (lingua) vulgāris “popular (language)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Dutch¹

C19: short for duchess

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go Dutch, Sometimes Offensive. to have each person pay their own expenses: Also go dutch.

   a dinner where everyone goes Dutch.

2. in Dutch, Sometimes Offensive. in trouble or disfavor (with someone):

   in Dutch with the teacher for disturbing the class.

More idioms and phrases containing Dutch

• beat all (the Dutch)
• double Dutch
• in Dutch

Example Sentences

Standing before the camera, she alternately whips the wires overhead like a lasso and then rotates them like she’s playing a solo game of double Dutch.

From Washington Post

BUX, a Dutch brokerage, said it was onboarding three times as many new customers during the GameStop controversy.

From Quartz

Folding bike manufacturer Gocycle says it sold out of its electric bikes it produced in 2020, while Dutch e-bike maker VanMoof announced the largest jump in sales it’s seen this past year.

From Time

In a large, heavy pot such as a Dutch oven, over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil until shimmering.

From Washington Post

In a Dutch oven over high heat, heat half of the oil until shimmering.

From Washington Post

Between June and October 1943, 4,283 British, 1,303 Dutch, 1,630 Australian, and 88 American soldiers died.

From The Daily Beast

“We are not proponents of Dutch citizens getting involved in the struggle,” says Bahoz Derik of the Dutch Kurdish FedKom network.

From The Daily Beast

Dutch and German motorcycle gangs got a lot of publicity saying they were fighting against the so-called Islamic State in Syria.

From The Daily Beast

Indeed, a common racial slur in Dutch is, precisely, roetmop, which means soot mop.

From The Daily Beast

“Because Dutch people have these childhood memories, they cannot see Black Piet for what it is,” says Bergman.

From The Daily Beast

Mrs. Woodbury paints in oils and water-colors; the latter are genre scenes, and among them are several Dutch subjects.

From Project Gutenberg

She did her work at a most interesting period in Dutch painting.

From Project Gutenberg

The stratagem worked, because the ships went about from one tack to the other without being seen by the Dutch.

From Project Gutenberg

The vessel escaped miraculously, with sails torn by shots from three Dutch vessels, which they took for one of their own.

From Project Gutenberg

The fire crackled around the Dutch ovens, and the odor of coffee came floating by.

From Project Gutenberg