List of English words of Dutch origin: Difference between revisions

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This is an incomplete list of Dutch expressions used in English; some are relatively common (e.g. cookie), some are comparatively rare. In a survey by Joseph M. Williams in Origins of the English Language it is estimated that about 1% of English words are of Dutch origin.

In many cases the loanword has assumed a meaning substantially different from its Dutch forebear. Some English words have been borrowed directly from Dutch. But typically, English spellings of Dutch loanwords suppress combinations of vowels of the original word which do not exist in English and replace them with existing vowel combinations respectively. For example, the oe in koekje or koekie becomes oo in cookie, the ij (considered a vowel in Dutch) and the ui in vrijbuiter becomes ee and oo in freebooter, the aa in baas becomes o in boss, the oo in stoof becomes o in stove.

As languages, English and Dutch are both West Germanic, and descend further back from the common ancestor language Proto-Germanic. Their relationship however, has been obscured by the lexical influence of Old Norse as a consequence of Viking expansion from the 9th till the 11th century, and Norman French, as a consequence of the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Because of their close common relationship - in addition to the large Latin and French vocabulary both languages possess - many English words are essentially identical to their Dutch lexical counterparts, either in spelling (plant, begin, fruit), pronunciation (pool = pole, boek = book, diep = deep), or both (offer, hard, lip) or as false friends (ramp = disaster, roof = robbery, mop = joke). These cognates or in other ways related words are excluded from this list.

Dutch expressions have been incorporated into English usage for many reasons and in different periods in time. These are some of the most common ones:

From Old Dutch

• Many Latinate words in the English lexicon were borrowed from Latin. Quite a few of these words can further trace their origins back to a Germanic source - usually Old Low Franconian. Old Dutch is the western variant of this language. In cases it is not clear whether the loanword is from Old Dutch (Old West Low Franconian) or another Germanic language, they have been excluded from the list. See also: List of English Latinates of Germanic origin
• Since speakers of West Germanic languages spoken along the North Sea coast from the 5th to the 9th century lived close enough together to form a linguistic crossroads - water was the main way of transportation - Dutch and English share some traits that other West Germanic languages do not possess. Lexical examples are Dutch vijf / English five (compare German: Fünf) and Dutch leef / English live (compare German Leben). These words have been excluded from the list. See also: Ingvaeonic nasal spirant law
• Since the Norman conquest of 1066 many Latinate words entered the English lexicon via French, which has – via Old French – a substantial base of Old Dutch (or Old Low Franconian) and Middle Dutch. For instance, French boulevard comes from Dutch bolwerk. In cases it is not clear whether the loanword in French is from Dutch or another Germanic language, they have been excluded from the list. See also: Influence of Franconian language on French

For some loanwords stemming from this period it is not always clear whether they are of Old Dutch, Old Norse, another Germanic language or an unknown Old English origin. These words have been excluded from the list, or indicated as such.

From Middle Dutch

• About one-third of the invading Norman army of 1066 came from Dutch speaking Flemish. Many Flemings stayed in England after the Conquest and influenced the English language.
• The main part of refugees to England, Wales and Scotland from the 11th till the 17th century were from the Low Countries; particularly Flemish skilled weavers and textile workers immigrated as a result of floods, overpopulation and warfare in Flanders. In 1527, when England's population numbered 5 million, London alone had tens of thousands of Flemings, while an estimated third of the Scottish population has a Flemish background.

The Hanseatic League had in the late Middle Ages a trade network along the coast of Northern Europe and England, using to Dutch related Middle Low German as lingua franca. Some loanwords from this period could come from either language. These words have been excluded from the list, or indicated as such.

From Modern Dutch

• In the Dutch Golden Age, spanning most of the 17th century, Dutch trade, science, military, and art were among the most acclaimed in the world, and many English words of Dutch origin concerning these areas are stemming from this period.
• English and Dutch rivalry at sea resulted in many Dutch naval terms in English. See also: Dutch linguistic influence on naval terms
• Via settlements in North America and elsewhere in the world Dutch language influenced English spoken there, particularly American English. That resulted also in numerous place names based on Dutch words and places. These are excluded from the list unless they are well known, like Brooklyn (from the Dutch town Breukelen) and Wall Street (from Dutch Walstraat). See also: List of place names of Dutch origin
• Due to contact between Afrikaans and English speakers in South Africa, many Dutch words entered English via Afrikaans, which has an estimated 90 to 95% vocabulary of Dutch origin. Only the words that entered standard English are listed here. Afrikaans words that do not stem from Cape Dutch but from an African, Indian or other European language, are not listed here. See also: List of English words of Afrikaans origin and List of South African slang words

A

Aardvark

from South African Dutch aardvark (earth + pig)

Aboard

from Dutch Aan boord

Afrikaans

from Dutch Afrikaans (Africanish)

Aloof

from Old French lof, based on Middle Dutch lof (windward direction), now oploeven + Middle English a

Apartheid

from Afrikaans Apartheid, from Dutch apart + suffix -heid (separate + -hood)

Avast

from 17th century Dutch hou'vast (hold fast, hold steady)

B

Bamboo

from 16th century Dutch bamboe, based on Malay bambu

Batik

from Dutch batik, based on Javanese amba + titik (to write + dot, point)

Bazooka

from US slang bazoo (mouth), based on Dutch bazuin (trompet)

Beaker

from either Old Norse bikarr or Middle Dutch beker (mug, cup)

Beleaguer

from 16th century Dutch belegeren (besiege)

Berm

from French berme, based on Old Dutch b(a)erm

Bicker

from Middle Dutch bicken (to slash, attack) + Middle English frequentative suffix -er

Blare

from an unrecorded Old English *blæren or from Middle Dutch blaren and blèren (to bleat, to shout)

Blasé

via French blasé, past participle of blaser (="to satiate"), perhaps from Dutch blazen (="to blow"), with a sense of "puffed up under the effects of drinking"

Blaze (to make public, often in a bad sense, boastfully)

from Middle Dutch blasen (="to blow, on a trumpet)

Blink

perhaps from Middle Dutch blinken (="to glitter")

Blister

via Old French blestre, perhaps from a Scandinavian source or from Middle Dutch blyster (="swelling")

Block (solid piece)

via Old French bloc (="log, block"), from Middle Dutch blok (="trunk of a tree")

Bluff (poker term)

from Dutch bluffen (="to brag, boast") or verbluffen (="to baffle, mislead")

Bluff (landscape feature)

from Dutch blaf (="flat, broad"), apparently a North Sea nautical term for ships with flat vertical bows, later extended to landscape features

Blunderbuss

from Dutch donderbus, from donder (="thunder") + bus (="gun," originally "box, tube"), altered by resemblance to blunder

Boer (Dutch colonist in South Africa)

from Dutch boer (="farmer"), from Middle Dutch

Bogart

after Humphrey Bogart. Boomgaard means "orchard" ("tree-garden").

Bokkoms

from Dutch bokking (="buckling"), a type of salter fish

Boodle

from Dutch boedel (="property")

Boom

from boom (="tree"); cognate to English beam

Boomslang

from boomslang (="tree snake"), a type of snake

Booze

from Middle Dutch busen (="to drink in excess"); according to JW de Vries busen is equivalent to buizen

Boss

from baas

Boulevard

from "bolwerk", which came as boulevard into French, then into English. "Bolwerk" was also directly borrowed as 'bulwark'

Bow (front of a ship)

from Old Norse bogr, Low German boog or Dutch boeg

Brackish

from Middle Dutch or Low German brac (="salty", also "worthless"), now brak

Brandy (wine)

from brandewijn (literally "burnt wine")

Brooklyn

after the town of Breukelen near Utrecht

Bruin/Bruins

archaic English word for brown bear, derived from the Dutch word for brown bruin

Buckwheat

from Middle Dutch boecweite (="beech wheat") because of its resemblance to grains and seed of beech wheat

Bully

from boel (="lover", "brother")

Bulwark

from bolwerk

Bumpkin

from bommekijn ('little barrel')

Bundle

from Middle Dutch bondel or perhaps a merger of this word and Old English byndele ('binding')

Bung

from Middle Dutch bonge (="stopper")

Buoy

from boei (="shackle" or "buoy")

Bush (uncleared district of a British colony)

probably from Dutch bosch, now bos or bosje in the same sense, since it seems to appear first in former Dutch colonies

C

Caboose

from kambuis or kombuis (="ship's kitchen", "galley")

Cam

from 18th century Dutch cam (cog of a wheel", originally comb, cognate of English comb), nowadays kam, or from English camber (having a slight arch)

Captain

from kapitein

Cockatoo

from kaketoe

Cashier

from Middle Dutch cassier

Coleslaw

from 18th century Dutch koolsla (cabbage salad)

Commodore

probably from Dutch kommandeur, from French commandeur, from Old French comandeor

Cookie

from koekje, or in informal Dutch koekie (="biscuit", "cookie")

Coney Island

(English dialect word for Rabbit) from Conyne Eylandt (literally "Rabbit Island"), in modern Dutch konijn and eiland.

Cramp

(metal bar bent at both ends) from Middle Dutch crampe or Middle Low German krampe.

Cricket

from Old French criquet 'goal post', 'stick', perhaps from Middle Dutch cricke 'stick, staff'

Crimp

from Old English gecrympan, perhaps reintroduced from Low German or Dutch krimpen (to shrink)

Croon

via Scottish, from Middle Dutch kronen (= to lament, mourn)

Cruise

from Dutch kruisen (="to cross, sail to and fro"), from kruis (="cross")

Cruller

from 19th century Dutch krullen (to curl)

D

Dam

from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German dam, or from Old Norse dammr

Dapper

from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German dapper (bold, sturdy) in modern dutch “brave”

Deck

from 16th century Middle Dutch dec or dekken (to cover)

Decoy

possibly from 16th century Dutch de (the) + kooi (cage, used of a pond surrounded by nets, into which wildfowl were lured for capture). Or from 16th century Dutch "eendekooi" (duck cage; a cage with an artificial duck to lure wild ducks); mistranslated as "een" dekooi; should have been read as "eend (duck)" -e- "kooi (cage)"-> a (article) dekooi -> (a) decoy

Delve

from Dutch delven / opdelven

Dingus

from Dutch dinges, literally "thing".

Dock

from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German docke, nowadays dok

Dollar

from Dutch (Rijks)daalder

Domineer

from late 16th century Dutch dominieren (to rule), based on Middle French dominer

Dope

from American English dope, based on Dutch doop (sauce) or dopen (to dip or to baptise)

Dredge

from Scottish dreg-boat (boat for dredging), perhaps based on Middle Dutch dregghe (drag-net), nowadays dreggen

Drill (verb)

from 17th century Dutch drillen

Drug

from Old French drogue, based on Middle Dutch droge-vate (dry barrels, with first element mistaken as word for the contents) ^[2]

Drum

probably from Middle Dutch tromme, now trom

Dune

from French dune, based on Middle Dutch dune, now duin ^[3]

E

Easel

from ezel (=originally (and still) "donkey"; "(schilders)ezel"=easel, lit. "painter's donkey") ^[4]

Elope

from ontlopen (run away) ^[5]

Etch

from Dutch ets or etsen

Excise (noun)

(="tax on goods") from Middle Dutch excijs, apparently altered from accijns (="tax"); English got the word, and the idea for the tax, from the Netherlands. ^[6]

F

Filibuster

from Spanish filibustero from French flibustier ultimately from Dutch vrijbuiter (="pirate" or "freebooter")

Flag

from vlag

Flushing, Queens

from Vlissingen, a city in the Netherlands

Foist

from Dutch vuisten (="take in hand"), from Middle Dutch vuist (="fist") ^[7]

Forlorn hope

from verloren hoop (literally "lost heap or group", figuratively "suicide mission," "cannon fodder") Forlorn also has identical cognates in German and the Scandinavian languages.

Fraught

from vrecht, vracht

Freebooter

from vrijbuiter

Freight

from vracht

Frolic

from vrolijk (="cheerful")

Frigate

from Dutch fregat

Furlough

from verlof (="permission (to leave)")

G

Galoot

(="awkward or boorish man"), originally a sailor's contemptuous word (="raw recruit, green hand") for soldiers or marines, of uncertain origin; "Dictionary of American Slang" proposes galut, Sierra Leone creole form of Spanish galeoto (="galley slave"); perhaps rather Dutch slang kloot (="testicle"), klootzak (="scrotum"), used figuratively as an insult

Gas

from gas, a neologism from Jan Baptista van Helmont, derived from the Greek chaos

Geek

from geck (gek) (="fool")

Gherkin

from Dutch plural of gurk "cucumber", shortened form of East Frisian augurk

Gimp (cord or thread)

from Dutch gimp

Gin

from jenever

Gnu

from gnoe, earlier t’gnu, from a Khoikhoi word

Golf

from kolf (="bat, club," but also a game played with these)

Grab

from grijpen (="to seize, to grasp, to snatch")

Gruff

from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German grof (="coarse (in quality), thick, large")

Guilder

from gulden ^[8]

Gulp

likely from Flemish gulpe or Dutch gulpen (="to gush, pour forth, guzzle, swallow"), probably of imitative origin.

H

Hale (verb)

(="drag, summon"), from Old Frankonian haler (="to pull, haul"), from Frankonian *halon or Old Dutch halen, both from Proto Germanic ^[9]

Hankering

from Middle Dutch hankeren or Dutch hunkeren

Harlem

called after the city of Haarlem near Amsterdam

Hartebeest

from both Afrikaans (Hartebees) and Dutch (Hartenbeest)

Heckle

from Middle Dutch hekelen

Hoboken

possibly named after the Flemish town Hoboken, from Middle Dutch Hooghe Buechen or Hoge Beuken (="High Beeches" or "Tall Beeches")

Howitzer

from Dutch houwitzer, which in turn comes from German Haussnitz and later Haubitze.

Hoist

from Middle Dutch hijsen (=raise)

Holster

from holster

Hooky

from hoekje (=corner) in the sense of "to go around the corner"

Hoyden

maybe from heiden (=backwoodsman), from Middle Dutch (=heathen)

Hump

perhaps from Dutch homp (="lump")

Hustle, Hustler

from Dutch hutselen, husseln "to shake, to toss"

I

Iceberg

from Dutch ijsberg (literally 'ice mountain')

Ietsism

from Dutch ietsisme (literally: somethingism) an unspecified faith in an undetermined higher or supernatural power or force

Isinglass

from Dutch huizenblas (no longer used) from Middle Dutch huusblase, from huus sturgeon + blase bladder^[10]

J

Jeer (to deride, to mock)

Perhaps from Dutch gieren "to cry or roar," or German scheren "to plague, vex," literally "to shear"^[11]

Jib (foresail of a ship)

from Dutch gijben (boom or spar of a sailing ship) and Dutch gijpen (turn the boat using foresail)^[12]

K

Keelhauling

from kielhalen (literally "to haul keel"), kiel (= keel) ^[13]

Keeshond

prob. from special use of Kees (nickname corresponding to proper name Cornelis) + hond "dog" ^[14]

Kill (body of water)

from kil from Middle Dutch kille (literally "riverbed") ^[15]

Kink

from kink referring to a twist in a rope or cable ^[16]

Knapsack

from Middle Dutch knapzak (snack + bag)^[17]

Knickerbocker

The pen-name was borrowed from Washington Irving's friend Herman Knickerbocker, and literally means "toy marble-baker." Also, descendants of Dutch settlers to New York, USA, are referred to as Knickerbockers and later became used in reference to a style of pants ^[18]

L

Landscape

from 16th century Dutch landschap (land + -ship)^[19]

Leak

from Middle Dutch lekken (to leak, to drip) and lek (=leak) ^[20]

Loiter

from Middle Dutch loteren ^[21]

Luck

from Middle Dutch luc, shortening of gheluc (happiness, good fortune), now geluk ^[22]

M

Maelstrom

from 17th century Dutch mael + stroom (turning + current), possibly based on Old Norse mal(u)streymur ^[23]

Manikin

from Middle Dutch manneken (little man)^[24]

Mannequin

from French Mannequin, based on Middle Dutch manneken (little man)^[25]

Mast

from mast

Marshal

from Old French, based on Frankish (Old Dutch) marhskalk, now maarschalk ^[26]

Mart

from Middle Dutch markt (market) ^[27]

Measles

possibly from Middle Dutch mazelen (blemish)^[28]

Meerkat

from South African Dutch meer + kat (lake + cat), perhaps an alteration of Hindi markat (ape)^[29]

Morass

from Middle Dutch marasch (swamp), partly based on Old French marais (marsh), in modern Dutch: moeras ^[30]

Mud

from Middle Dutch modde (="thick mud") now modder, and/or Middle Low German mudde

N

Nasty

perhaps from Old French nastre "miserly, envious, malicious, spiteful," or from Dutch nestig "dirty," literally "like a bird's nest."^[31]

O

Offal

possibly from Middle Dutch afval (leftovers, rubbish) ^[32]

Onslaught

From Middle Dutch aanslag (attack') ^[33]

P

Patroon

from patroon (="patron") ^[34]

Peg

from Middle Dutch pegge, now peg (="peg") ^[35]

Pickle

c.1440, probably from Middle Dutch and still pekel ^[36]

Pinkie

From Dutch Pink / Pinkje / Pinkie ^[37]

Pit

the stone of a drupaceous fruit : from pit ^[38]

Plug

from plugge, originally a maritime term, still plug in Dutch.^[39]

Polder

from polder

Poppycock

from pappekak (=dialect for "soft dung") ^[40]

Potassium

from potaschen c. 1477 see Potash

Prop

probably from Middle Dutch proppe (="vine prop, support; stop for a bottle"), now still prop

Pump

from pomp ^[41]

Puss

perhaps from early 16th century Dutch poes (still in use as poes / poesje) or Low German puus (pet name for cat), but probably much older than the record, because present in many Indo-European languages. ^[42]

Q

Quack

shortened from quacksalver, from kwakzalver (literally "someone who daubs ointments") ^[43]

R

Roster

from rooster (="schedule, or grating/grill") ^[44]

Rover

from rover (="robber") ^[45]

Rowing

from roeien. Roeiboot (= rowing boat)

Rucksack

from rugzak (="back sack")

Rudder

from roer

S

Sail

from zeil

Santa Claus

from Middle Dutch Sinterklaas (="Saint Nicholas"), bishop of Minor Asia who became a patron saint for children. (Dutch and Belgian feast celebrated on the 5th and 6 December respectively) (Origins of Santa Claus in US culture)^[46]

School (group of fish)

from Dutch school (group of fish)^[47]

Scone

via Scottish, shortened from Middle Dutch schoonbrood "fine bread", from schoon (bright) + brood (bread) ^[48]

Scow

from schouw (a type of boat) ^[49]

Scum (as in lowest class of humanity)

from schuim (froth, foam) ^[50]

Ship

from Dutch schip

Shoal

from Middle Dutch schole (="large number (of fish)") (modern Dutch: school) (etymology not sure)

Skate

from schaats. The noun was originally adopted as in Dutch, with 'skates' being the singular form of the noun; due to the similarity to regular English plurals this form was ultimately used as the plural while 'skate' was derived for use as singular."

Sketch

from schets ^[51]

Scour

from Middle Dutch scuren (now "schuren"), cognate of the English word "shower"

Skipper

from Middle Dutch scipper (now schipper, literally "shipper") ^[52]

Sled, sleigh

from Middle Dutch slede, slee ^[53]

Slim

"thin, slight, slender," from Dutch slim "bad, sly, clever, smart" from Middle Dutch slim "bad, crooked, smart, intelligent"

Slobber

from Middle Dutch slabberen.

Sloop

from sloep

Slurp

from slurpen

Smack (boat)

possibly from smak "sailboat," perhaps so-called from the sound made by its sails

Smearcase

from smeerkaas (="cheese that can be spread over bread, cottage-cheese") or smeerkees (="someone who is very dirty")

Smelt

from smelten (="to melt")

Smuggler

from Low German smukkelen and Dutch smokkelen (="to transport (goods) illegally"), apparently a frequentative formation of a word meaning "to sneak" ^[54]

Snack

perhaps from Middle Dutch snakken (="to long" (snakken naar lucht="to gasp for air") originally "to eat"/"chatter")

Snap

from Middle Dutch or Low German snappen (to bite, seize)

Snicker

from Dutch snikken (="to gasp, sob")

Snoop

from 19 century Dutch snoepen (to eat (possibly in secret) something sweet)

Snoot, Snooty

from Middle Dutch snute, now snuit (=face)

Snout

from Middle Dutch snute

Snuff

from snuiftabak (literally "sniff tobacco")

Spa

The term is derived from the name of the town of Spa, Belgium, whose name is known from Roman times, when the location was called Aquae Spadanae, sometimes incorrectly connected to the Latin word spargere meaning to scatter, sprinkle or moisten.

Spangle

probably from Middle Dutch spange (=brooch, clasp)

Splice

from Middle Dutch splissen (="to splice") now splijten

Splinter

from splinter ^[55]

Split

from Middle Dutch splitten ^[56]

Spook

from spook (="ghost(ly image)")

Spoor

from both Afrikaans and Dutch spoor (="track"/"trail")

Spray

from Middle Dutch sprayen

Sprinkle

from Middle Dutch/Middle Low German sprenkel (="spot, speck")

Spout

related to Middle Dutch spoiten (="to spout"):

Starboard

from Dutch stuurboord

Still life

from Dutch stilleven

Stoker

from stoken (="stoke a fire")

Stoop (steps)

from stoep (=road up a dike, usually right-angled)

Stockfish

from Dutch stokvis (= "stick fish")

Stock

from Dutch stok (= "stick"). The Dutch word stok, pronounced similarly, was a wooden stick with carvings taken out of it and then split in half, one half was kept at the stock exchange and the other half was proof that the owner owned a certain amount of stock in something.

Stove

from Middle Dutch stove (="heated room"). The Dutch word stoof, pronounced similarly, is a small (often wooden) box with holes in it. One would place glowing coals inside so it would emanate heat, and then put one's feet on top of it while sitting (in a chair) to keep one's feet warm.

Stripe

from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German stripe (="stripe, streak"), now strip

Sutler

from zoetelaar (="one who sweetens", sweetener, old-fashioned for "camp cook")

Swab

From Dutch zwabber

T

Tackle

from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German takel (="the rigging of a ship,") perhaps related to Middle Dutch taken (="grasp, seize")

Tattle

probably from Middle Flemish tatelen (="to stutter,") parallel to Middle Dutch, Middle Low German, East Frisian tateren (="to chatter, babble,") possibly of imitative origin.

Tattoo (military term)

from taptoe (literally "close the tap"). So called because police used to visit taverns in the evening to shut off the taps of casks.

Tickle

from kietelen

Trek

from Dutch trekken ("to march, journey") via Afrikaans

Trigger

from trekker (Trekken ="to pull")

Tub

from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch, or Middle Flemish tubbe, of uncertain origin. Now tobbe and wastobbe (=washing tub)

U

Upsy-daisy (baby talk extension of up)

from late 17th century Dutch op zijn, and also occasionally as an adverb, "extremely"

V

Vang

from Dutch vangen (=to catch)

Veld

from Cape Dutch veldt, now veld, used in South African English and in Dutch to describe a field

W

Waffle (noun)

from Dutch wafel, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German wafel

Walrus

from walrus ^[57]

Wagon

from Dutch wagen, Middle Dutch waghen (= "cart, carriage, wagon")

Wentletrap

from Dutch wenteltrap: wentelen (= "winding, spiraling") and trap (= "stairway")

Wiggle

from wiggelen (= "to wobble, to wiggle") or wiegen (= "to rock")

Wildebeest

from Dutch "wilde" (= "wild") and "beest" (= "beast")

Witloof

from Belgian Dutch witloof (literally wit "white" + loof "foliage"), Dutch witlof

Y

Yacht

from Dutch jacht, short for jachtschip (literally "hunting ship") ^[58]

Yankee

from Jan Kees, a personal name, originally used mockingly to describe pro-French revolutionary citizens, with allusion to the small keeshond dog, then for "colonials" in New Amsterdam. This is not the only possible etymology for the word yankee, however; the Oxford English Dictionary has quotes with the term from as early as 1765, quite some time before the French Revolution. Nowadays it commonly refers to Americans from the United States.

See also

• Lists of English words of international origin
• List of English words of Afrikaans origin
• List of place names of Dutch origin
• List of South African slang words
• List of English Latinates of Germanic origin

External links

• Online Etymology Dictionary
• Alan Hope, "Talk the talk" - article in Flanders Today on the influence of Dutch on other languages
• Low Germanic loanwords in modern English