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.

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Pennsylvania Dutch.

  2. Archaic. German; Teutonic.

noun
  1. the people of the Netherlands and their immediate descendants elsewhere, collectively.

  1. Also called Netherlandic . the Germanic language of the Netherlands and northern Belgium. Abbreviations: D, D.: Compare Flemish.

  2. Obsolete. the German language.

Idioms about Dutch

  1. go Dutch, Sometimes Offensive. to have each person pay their own expenses: a dinner where everyone goes Dutch.: Also go dutch .

  2. in Dutch, Sometimes Offensive. in trouble or disfavor (with someone): in Dutch with the teacher for disturbing the class.

Origin of Dutch

1
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)”

usage note For Dutch

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 Dutch

  • pre-Dutch, adjective
  • pseudo-Dutch, adjective

Words Nearby Dutch

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use Dutch in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dutch (1 of 2)

dutch

/ (dʌtʃ) /


noun
  1. Cockney slang wife

Origin of dutch

1
C19: short for duchess

British Dictionary definitions for Dutch (2 of 2)

Dutch

/ (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

  1. 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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with Dutch

Dutch

In addition to the idioms beginning with Dutch

  • Dutch courage
  • Dutch treat
  • Dutch uncle

also see:

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.