Pennsylvania Dutch

noun

1. the descendants of 17th- and 18th-century settlers in Pennsylvania from southwest Germany and Switzerland.
2. Also called Pennsylvania German. a dialect of High German with an admixture of English spoken mainly in eastern Pennsylvania, developed from the language of these settlers. : PaD, PaG
3. the folk style of applied and decorative art developed by the Pennsylvania Dutch.

Pennsylvania Dutch

noun

1. Also calledPennsylvania German a dialect of German spoken in E Pennsylvania
2. the Pennsylvania Dutch
   functioning as plural a group of German-speaking people in E Pennsylvania, descended from 18th-century settlers from SW Germany and Switzerland

Pennsylvania Dutch

1. The German and Swiss settlers of Pennsylvania in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and their descendants. “Dutch” is a version of the German Deutsch , meaning “German.” The Pennsylvania Dutch are known for their tidy farms and their distinctive crafts and customs. A considerable number of them belong to strict religious denominations, such as the Amish .

Other Words From

• Pennsyl·vania-Dutch adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pennsylvania Dutch¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

He hadn’t, other than picking up a few words from Pennsylvania Dutch, but told the company that he believes learning another language “gives you a perspective on your own language and insights into the thinking and processes of the other language and culture.”

From Seattle Times

Organizers also needed more parking, so they pulled the plug on games of corner ball, a dodgeball-like sport enjoyed by Amish boys and known as Eck balle in the Pennsylvania Dutch language.

From Seattle Times

But accuracy doesn't stop people from reveling in the kitschy Pennsylvania Dutch holiday.

From Salon

It’s also known as a woodchuck, a whistle pig — or in the parlance of Pennsylvania Dutch, a language with German roots, a “grundsau.”

From Seattle Times

Intended to preserve Pennsylvania German culture and traditions, clubs would sometimes fine those who were caught speaking anything but their Pennsylvania Dutch language at meetings.

From Seattle Times