Dutch

Alternative forms

• (abbreviation): Du.

Etymology

From Middle English Duch (“German, Low German, Dutch”), from Middle Low German dütsch, düdesch (“German, Low German, Dutch”) and Middle Dutch dūtsch, duutsc (“German, Low German, Dutch”), from Proto-Germanic *þiudiskaz (“of one’s people”), derived from *þeudō (“people”), from Proto-Indo-European *tewtéh₂.

Compare Old English þēodisc (“of one’s people”), Old Saxon thiudisk (German Low German düütsch (“German”)), Old High German diutisc (modern German deutsch (“German”)), modern Dutch Duits (“German”) alongside elevated Diets (“Dutch”) (a secondary dinstinction, fully accepted only in the 19th century). See also Derrick, Teuton, Teutonic.

Pronunciation

• enPR: dŭch, IPA^(key): /dʌtʃ/

• Audio (UK)

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• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ʌtʃ

Adjective

Dutch (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to the Netherlands, the Dutch people or the Dutch language.
2. (archaic or regional, except in set terms) Pertaining to Germanic-speaking peoples on the European continent, chiefly the Dutch, the Germans, and the Goths; Teutonic; Germanic. Especially refers to Germans
3. (obsolete outside certain fixed expressions, or in the sense of "thrifty", now possibly offensive, pejorative) Substitute, inferior, ersatz (as seen in expressions such as Dutch courage, Dutch treat, Dutch oven, and Dutch comfort), or thrifty, (See Dutch treat; compare go Dutch.)

Proper noun

Dutch

1. The main language of the Netherlands and Flanders (i.e., the northern half of Belgium).
2. (archaic) German; the main language of the Holy Roman Empire (Germany, Austria, Alsace, Luxembourg).

Noun

Dutch pl (plural only)

1. (collective) The people of the Netherlands.

   The Dutch will vote on the matter next month.

Verb

Dutch (third-person singular simple present Dutches, present participle Dutching, simple past and past participle Dutched)

1. To treat cocoa beans or powder with an alkali solution to improve the color or flavor.
   • 2015, Deb Wise, Incredibly Decadent Desserts: 100 Divine Treats Under 300 Calories:

     Dutch processed is made from cocoa beans that have been treated with an alkalized solution. You'll get a deeper color and a great chocolaty flavor, but more importantly, the process of Dutching the chocolate renders the powder neutral.

See also

• Wiktionary's coverage of Dutch terms
• Appendix:Dutch Swadesh list for a Swadesh list of basic vocabulary words in Dutch

Further reading

• Dutch - English Dictionary: from Webster's Dictionary - the Rosetta Edition.
• ISO 639-1 code nl, ISO 639-3 code nld
• Ethnologue entry for Dutch, nl