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Chapter XI The Influence which Holland Has Exerted on the English Language

Foreign elements never had any considerable influence either on the grammar or on the syntax, but their effect was mostly confined to the introduction of a small or a large number of words. Even the influence of the French language of the Norman conquerors, which was the official language in England during more than three hundred years, has not changed very much the grammar or the syntax of English.

But the influx of French words was enormous. So, if Holland has exerted some influence on the English language, that influence is not likely to be found in the introduction of alterations in English grammar or syntax but is to be sought in the vocabulary of the English language.

More recently than the researches of Skeat and Carpenter, a Dutch scholar, W. de Hoog, has published a remarkable list of words, in alphabetic order, which have been introduced into the English language by the Dutch. De Hoog does not take the English language as it is in any one period of history, but as it is to be found in all English literature. Consequently some of these words, which were at one time used by the best authors, are in our time hardly understood even by scholars. But nevertheless they occur in works belonging to English literature and

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therefore Mr. de Hoog was perfectly right to include them in his list.

I give the list of words as Mr. de Hoog published it, with this difference only, that I have translated his explanations from Dutch into English. About some words there may arise doubts, but such doubts are always found in etymological studies, and it lies in the very nature of this field of study to give in many cases room for some difference of opinion. Anyhow I give this list as it is: viz., as constructed by the scholarly hand of Mr. de Hoog, and as the best list existing at this moment. The purpose of this little volume is not to specialize in etymology, but to call the attention of American scholars to one more argument showing that there is an interesting field for research in Dutch History, Art, Literature and Language, a broad and beautiful field which up to this time has been almost totally neglected, even in the greatest Universities of America. The vast progress of etymology in our days gives abundant hope that within a few years a better list may be published by some scholar who may begin his researches with the results of Skeat, Carpenter and de Hoog. This list contains 448 words:

aam, other Eng. forms ame, awm, aume. D. aam. Ger. ahm, ohm. L. Lat. ama. A measure of liquids, particularly of wine, containing about 40 gallons. The measure varied in different cities (Antwerp, Dordrecht, etc.).
aardvark - earth pig. An edentate mammal in South Africa, feeding on ants. The name originated with the Dutch settlers at the Cape of Good Hope who thought the animal resembled a pig.
aardwolf, a South African carnivorous quadruped, living in holes in the ground. Named by the Dutch
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settlers at the Cape of Good Hope, who thought it resembled a wolf.
afterdele - dis-advantage. cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. achterdeel.
afterfeet - hind leg. cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. afterste voet.
ahoy. Interjection. cf. Ship ahoy! A naval expression used to hail ships. ‘A’ intensifies the meaning. From D. hui! cf. H.G. hui.
aloof - on a distance. cf. to hold aloof, to stand aloof. a - on cf. afoot, asleep, abed; on loof, D. te loef, te loeve waart, te loevert, te loever - against the wind. cf. Eng. to luff, to loof.
amelcorn - an inferior variety of wheat. From D. amelkoren, a kind of wheat; the meaning of the word is unground grain. cf. Lat. amylum.
anker - a liquid measure of 8 to 10 gallons. Formerly used in England. Fr. ancre. M. Lat. ancheriam (ia), a small Carrel. A measure of wine and fish. D. anker. The English spelling also shows its Dutch origin. The ultimate origin of this word is uncertain.
Armenian - an adherent of the doctrine of Arminius. From D. Arminiaan. Arminius rejected the doctrine of predestination. Arminius is the Latin name for Harmensen.
arquebus - a kind of gun. From Fr. arquebuse, taken from the original D. haakbus. haak-hook. These guns had a hook under the barrel. M.D. haecbusse. cf. Eng. hackbut, bus, bowse, harquebus.
avast - stop! cf. avast heaving. A naval expression from D. hou vast! It is found, for example, in ‘Poor Jack’, a sailor's song by Charles Dibdin (1745-1814):
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Avast! nor don't think me a milksop so soft,
To be taken for trifles aback;
For they say there's a Providence sits up aloft,
To keep watch for the life of poor Jack!
back, beck, bawke - a large shallow vessel, a vat, a tub, bucket, a vessel used in brewing. From D. bak.
balked - became angry. cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. balch - past tense of belgen - to swell. Cf. D. verbolgen, blaasbalg.
balken - to signify to fishing-boats the direction taken by the shoals of herrings, as seen from a height. From D. balken. A.S. bealcian. Eng. to belch.
to bale (bail) - to empty water out of a ship by means of bails (or buckets). It is found in Hackluyt's Voyages ‘Having freed our ship thereof (of water) with baling.’ As a substantive it is seldom (but already in 1466) found in Eng. Cf. The bail of a canoe made of a human skull (Capt. Cook, 1772). In D. balie, in Belgium also bale, baal. Not found in M.D., and perhaps taken from the Fr. substantive baille - tub. The Eng. word ‘to bale’ is probably taken from the D. baaliën, though the resemblance is closer in spelling than in pronunciation. In D. it is often found. Cf. Toen vielen zÿ met alle macht aan het baaliën. (Brandt. De Ruyter 487). Wÿ zaten aan den bak ... een groote balie met snert. (Marine-Schetsen by Werumeus Buning). Cf. baliemand. The derivation is as yet uncertain.
ballast - a load of sand, stone, iron, etc., to steady a ship. Dan. ballast, baglast; Sw. barlast. In Eng. not much used, seldom figuratively. ‘It is charity must ballast (steady) the heart’ (Hammond). In Eng. and D. used only since the 15th century.
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For example, in Hackluyt's Voyages and in Charters of Amsterdam Ao 1544. The oldest form is ‘barlast’ in older Swedish and Danish. According to Kluge and Murray, barlast - bare last - bloote last, a load (-last) which has no value itself, as distinguished from the real load. According to others bal(e) means useless. Cf. D. baldadig. In D. ballast - sand, stones, iron, etc., which is laid in the ship to give the necessary stability, so that, even without other load, the ship will not be in danger of capsizing. The figurative meaning in D. proves that it has been in use formerly, and that the meaning of ‘strength’ had been lost already to make place for that of ‘nuisance.’ Cf. Zet's werelds ballast aan een zÿ (De Dekker). Probably it will be proved ultimately that the word is not a compound but a derivative. Cf. Eng. to ballast, ballastage, ballaster.
bay - baize. Introduced into Eng. in the 16th century. From D. baai, and this from O. Fr. baie.
to bedrive - to commit, to do. 1481 Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. bedriven, to act, to do.
to bedwynge - to restrain. Cf. 14480 Caxton's Ovid. From M.D. bedwingen - to necessitate, to dominate.
beer - mole, pier. From D. beer - dam.
belay - to fasten a rope by wrapping it round and round a couple of pins. As a nautical term it first appears in the Complaint of Scotland, 1549. It is probably derived from the D. beleggen. M.D. beleggen. beleggen - to fasten ropes to something, fig. to fasten, cf. D. geld beleggen. An Eng. verb to belay, M.D. beleggen, with the meaning of to besiege is found already in Gower and Spenser.
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to beleaguer - to besiege. It appears not to have been used till 1590. Sir J. Smythe, Weapons. From D. belegeren (from the substantive leger (army) - to encamp around a city in order to conquer it. Cf. Sw. belagra - to besiege. Eng. leaguer.
to berisp - to censure. Cf. 1481 Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. berispen - to scold, to reproach.
biltong - strips of meat dried in the sun. South African. Also called bultong. From D. bil + tong. It looks much like an ox-tongue.
blas - J.B. Van Helmont's term for a supposed influence of the stars, producing changes of weather. From D. blas.
bluff - downright rude, frank. In Eng. used for the first time in 1627. Cf. a bluff point or bluff - a steep bank of rocks (1790 Cook's voyages). Bluff King Hall; a bluff shore (Falconer). A bluff sea-captain (W. Scott). Perhaps the same as the D. blaf - flat wide, given by Kiliaan 1599; D. blaffer - a clamorous proud person.
blunderbus - a short gun with a large bore; blunder derived from D. ‘donder’ (-blunder) because of the firing at random of this weapon. From D. donderbus.
boil - a hard tumour, a swelling. Cf. (1481 Caxton, Reynard) two grete bules. From M.D. bule, D. buil, cf. Eng. beal, M.E. bele, from O. Norw. beyla.
bomespar - a spar of the larger kind. From D. boomspar. boom - a beam, a pole, barrier, cf. Howell, Letters, 1650, p. 215. A naval expression. From D. boom. Cf. Eng. jibboom.
boor, boer - a peasant, a tiller of the soil. Cf. boorish; the Boors - the Dutch speaking settlers of
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South Africa. Already in ‘Beaumont en Fletcher's Beggars' Bush,’ 1622. Derived from D. boer with dialectic oe instead of ü - buurtgenoot. Boer is etymologically the same as buur. Cf. Eng. neighbour.
border - an edge. M. Eng. bordure. From Fr. bordure, which is derived from O.L.G. Cf. D. boord.
boussyng, bonssinc - a polecat. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. bonsinc, bonsem, boesinc. D. bunsing.
bosch - bosh - Bosch butter - artificial butter manufactured at 's Hertogenbosch or den Bosch in Holland: butterine. From D. Bosch, 's Hertogenbosch.
boss - leading man, master, chief. Frequently used in America. Cf. Eng. to boss it. From D. baas.
boss, bass - a plasterer's tray, a hod. From M.D. bosse, busse, bus, pot., cf. Eng. box.
to botch - to patch. Already in Wycliff, 1382 ‘eche feble thingus thei bocchyn’ (repaired). From O.L.G. botze, cf. D. botsen - intens, of boeten. M.D. boeten (-to repair), cf. D. netten boeten, ketelboeter.
bottomry - a mortgage on a ship. From D. bodemery - lit. to lend money on the bottom of a ship - to lend money on a ship or its cargo, especially in a foreign harbor, when the ship has been damaged and needs repair.
to bounce - to knock, to jump up quickly. M. Eng. bunsen, bounsen (to strike suddenly). From O.L.G. bunsen. Perhaps it is an onomatopoetic. D. bonzen.
bouse, boose, bouze, booze - to drink deeply. M. Eng. bousen. Cf. Spenser, A bouzing can - a drinking
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vessel. Slang; boozy - drunk, intoxicated. From D. ‘buizen’. M.D. busen. D. ‘buis’ (intoxicated). The D. buizen is derived from O. Fr. buse, cf. M.D. buse - cup, vase and finally small ship. Cf. D. haringbuis, Eng. buss.
bowery - a farm. From D. bouwerij.
bowse - a harquebus. Cf. Eng. arquebus.
boy - a youngster. M. Eng. boy, boi. From O.L.G., Fries. boy. Cf. D. boef. M.D. boef - young man, knave. Cf. stalboef.
to brabble - to quarrel. Cf. brabble, a brabbler. From D. brabbelen - onomatopoeia. In Marieken of Nymegen brabbelinghe is found with the meaning; nonsense. Cf. The Story of Mary of Nimwegen, 1510. Cf. D. Roemer Visser's Brabbeling.
brack, brackish - somewhat salt, briny, said of water. North's Plutarch, p. 471. In Gawain Douglas we find D. brak - brackish. Cf. M.D. brac. From D. brak. The derivation uncertain.
brake - a bush, thicket. M. Eng. brake. From O.L.G. Fries. brake, cf. D. braakland.
brake - a machine for breaking hemp; a contrivance for confining refractory horses; a name for various mechanical contrivances. M. Eng. brake. Cf. M.D. brake, a contrivance to fasten horses. From O.L.G., cf. D. braak.
brandy - an ardent spirit. From brande-wine, brandy-wine. In Beaumont and Fletcher's Beggars Bush 1622. From D. brandewÿn, brandwijn, distilled wine.
branskate - to put a place to ransom, or subject to a payment, in order to avoid pillage or destruction. From D. brandschatten.
brantcorn - blight, smut. From D. brandkoren. Name of disease of grain, caused by a kind of fungus.
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brassem - a kind of fish. A dark-olive colored river fish. D. brasem. Cf. Eng. bream.
brick - a lump of baked clay. M. Eng. brique. From Fr. brique, which is derived from O.L.G. Cf. D. breken.
to broider - to adorn with needlework. M. Eng. broder. From Fr. broder, which is derived from O.L.G., cf. D. boord.
brokes - customs. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From D. bruke - gebrink (use, custom).
bruges, brudges - name of a city in Flanders. Cf. bruges, satin. From D. Brugge.
bruin - bear. In the M.D. poem and the prose work ‘Van den Vos Reinaerde’ the bear is called ‘bruin’ - brown because of its color. In William Caxton's Translation ‘Reynard the Fox,’ 1481, the word is spelled bruine, brunne, bruyn.
bulk - the trunk of the body, heap, cargo. Cf. Shakespeare. From O.L.G. bulcke, cf. Kiliaen.
bully - brother, darling, fine fellow, protector of a prostitute, ruffian. From M.D. boel - brother, darling.
bumkin - a vessel. Cf. 1697 Dampier Voyages. From M.D. bomekÿn - a small vessel.
bumkin - luff-bloc. A naval term. From D. bumkin, boomkin, boomke.
bumpkin, Perhaps the same word as bumkin, boomke, a piece of wood; metaphorically a blockhead or bumkin, bommekyn. Cf. a country bumkin, Dryden's Juvenal Satires.
bunting-crow - the hooded crow. From D. bonte-kraai, also thinking of bunting.
buoy - a floating piece of wood fastened down. Properly a barrel fastened by a buoy. From D. boei, which is derived from Lat. boia or less probably from O. Fr. boye.
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burgher - a European male, no matter where resident, who is in the possession of the franchise and liable to all public duties. First found in the 16th century. Cf. burghership. D. burger.
burghermaster. Burgomaster - a chief magistrate of a town. Cf. Hackluyt - Voyages. From D. burgemeester; burg - town. Cf. Eng. borough; Canterbury; boroughmaster.
bus - a harquebus. Cf. arquebus.
Buschbome - boxwood, box. From M.D. busboom, bosboom, boksboom.
bush - a metal box. From D. bus - case. Cf. Eng. box.
bushbuck - a small species of African antelope. From D. bosch-bok.
bushman, Bosjesman - a tribe of aborigines near the Cape of Good Hope. From D. Boschjesman.
buskin - a kind of legging. In Spenser, Shakespeare, Milton and also earlier. From D. borsekin - leather bag. According to some people cognate with D. broos - boot. Cf. Dees wil liefst met Thalie en lage broosjes wandelen. Die stapt met Melpomeen op hooge laarsen voort. (Smits.) Others say that buskin is derived from Fr. bouzequin, a secondary form of brodequin, broissequin - buskin.
butterham - a slice of bread and butter. From D. boterham.
byslabbed - befouled. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. beslabben - to make dirty. Cf. D. slabbetje.
caboose - the cook's cabin on board ship. Sometimes spelt camboose. Dan. kabys. N.G. kabuse. Fr. cambuse. From D. kombius, kabuis. Used first in Eng. in the midst of the 18th century, as a
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maritime term. Probably derived from the Celt. cab. Cf. Fr. cabane, Eng. cabin.
cambric - kind of fine white linen. In 1530 the form: cameryk, later, camariek, cambric. From the name Cambray - Kamerÿk. Cf. Kamerdoek.
cant - edge, corner, to cant - to incline. M. Eng. cante. 1603 Ben Jonson: in a cant. From D. kant. Cf. D. kantelen. D. kant is derived from Fr. Cant. Cf. Lat. cantus, and canthus.
canty - Northern dialects: cheerful, active. Cf. John Anderson, my Jo, John
 
We clamb the hill thegither;
 
And monie a canty day, John,
 
We've had wi' ane anither.
 
(Burns)
From D. Kantig - sharp, prepared, ready, nice, fine. Cf. D. kant.
cardel - a hogshead used in the Dutch whaling trade. Cf. Eng. quardeel. From D. kardeel, quardeel - a fourth of a barrel.
cartow - a kind of cannon, a quartercannon, which threw a ball of a quarter of a hundred-weight. From D. Kartouw - a kind of cannon.
catkin - an inflorescence consisting of rows of flowers. From D. katteken, katje (of willows, ete.).
to cave in - to fall in. Used when men are digging, and a portion of a wall falls in. Lincolnshire dialect. To cave - to calve in. Cf. half-penny and the pronunciation of this word. From Flemish inkalven. Fries, kalven - to produce a calf. The word was introduced into England by English navvies.
cavie - a hen-coop, a house for fowls. From D. kavie, kevie.
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choice - a selection. M. Eng. chois, choys, which took the place of M. Eng. kire, cure. From O. Fr. chois, which is derived from O.L.G. Cf. D. kiezen, keuze.
to chuck - to strike gently, to toss. From Fr. choquer, which is derived from O.L.G. Cf. D. schokken.
a clamp - a clasp. To clamp - to fasten tightly, to heap up. M. Eng. clamp. Cf. Bible, Exod. Ch. 36. From D. klamp - hook. Klamp is a secondary form of klam. Cf. D. klemmen. Clamp (dialectic) - a heap of stones, bricks, peat. This meaning only since 1596. From D. klamp. In Flemish people still talk about a ‘klamp’ stones. M.D. hoy te setten in clampen - hay in stacks. This ‘clamp’ is perhaps the same word, and also cognate with D. klemmen.
clinker - hardened brick of pale colour made in Holland; a hard brick. Cf. 1641, Evelyn - Diary. From D. klinker, klinkaard, klinkerd - a stone which gives a sound (-D. klinkt).
clope - a blow, a knock. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. clop - a blow. Cf. kloppen. Flemish - klop geven; den godsklop geven.
to closh - to bowl; a kind of game. From M.D. closse, clos, ball. Cf. D. klos; klosbeitel.
clove - a rocky cleft. From M.D. clove. D. kloof.
clump - wooden sole, wooden shoe. From D. klomp.
to clunter, a clunter - to run together; a lump. Mostly dial. Cheshire and Yorkshire. From D. klonter, klont.
cluse - a monastic cell. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. cluse - kluis.
cockle - a furnace of a hop kiln; a stove. From M.D. kakele, D. kachel.
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to cope - to buy. M. Eng. copen, cf. 1430, Lydgate, London Lickpenny Master, ‘What will you copen or buy?’ This word was introduced into Eng. by Flemish or Dutch merchants. M.D. copen, D. koopen. Cf. Eng. to chop; cheap.
coper, cooper - a vessel fitted out to supply ardent spirits to the fishers in the North Sea. From D. kooper.
corver - a kind of Dutch herring-boat. Cf. Eng. corved herrings. From M.D. corver. Cf. D. corf harinck.
to cough - to make a violent effort of the lungs. Cf. 1340 Gawain and the Green Knight. From O.L.G. Fries. kuchen, cf. D. kuchen.
coy - a place for entrapping ducks or other wild-fowl. Cf. coy-duck, cf. 1621 Burton Anatomy. From D. kovi, cf. Eng. decoy.
coyte - a kind of beer. From M.D. coyte, kuyte-bier without hops. It was brewed at Brugge, Delft and Gouda.
cracknel - a kind of biscuit of hollowed shape. Found in 1440 already, dial, Sussex, crackling. From Fr. craquelin, which is derived from D. krakeling. Cf. D. kraken.
crants - a garland, wreath, a virgin crants. Cf. Shakespeare. From D. krants, krans. M.D. crans (of flowers); the symbol of virginity, cf. Kiliaen krants. The D. krans is derived from the H.G. kranz. Cf. Fr. chapeau de fleurs.
crap - madder. From D. krap, meekrap.
crap - the gallows. From D. krap - hook.
cratch - a manger, a rack or crib. M. Eng. cracche, crecche. Cf. 1225 Ancren Rule; 1350 Will. Palerne; dialectic critch. From Fr. crèche (Provence crepcha) which is derived from O.L.G. Cf. D. krib.
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to cratch - to scratch, cf. 1362 Langland. From M.D. cratsen, D. krassen.
cremp - to restrain, to contract. Only known in M. Eng. 1250, Owl and Nightingale. From M.D. crempen - to make, to contract. Cf. D. krimpen.
cresset - a vessel of iron, made to hold grease or oil, or an iron basket to hold pitched rope, to be burnt for light; usually mounted on a pole. Cf. cresset-light, cf. 1393 Gower, Confessio. From O. Fr. craicet, cresset. Fr. crosset, creuset, formed from croiseul, which is derived from D. kruÿsel, a lantern. Cf. kiliaen, kruÿsel - kroes - cup, vessel. M.D. croese. Cf. D. smeltkroes, cf. Eng. crucible.
crewel, crule - worsted yarn. Already found in 1494. Cf. crewel-work. Nowadays also called ‘Berlin wool.’ From D. krul. Though the sound of the D.. ‘u’ was different, the pronunciation could change, as soon as the word was written with one ‘1’ (-krule), instead of with two.
to crimp - to cause to contract and become firm by cutting. From D. krimpen.
to cruise - to traverse the sea. Cf. 1651, G. Carteret, Nicholas Papers, ‘Van Trump is with his fleete crusinge about Silly.’ Cf. a cruiser. From D. kruisen. Kruis from Fr. crois, which is derived from Lat. crucem.
to curl - to twist into ringlets. Cf. M. Eng. to kurl; to croul; crulle - curly. Cf. Chaucer's Prologue. In Washington Irving's Sketchbook, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, is found cruller - a cake made of dough, containing eggs, butter, sugar, etc. D. krulkock. From O.L.G. Fries. krul. Cf. D. krul.
to daker, daiker - to waver, stagger, to shake to and fro. First found in the 17th century. From M.D. dakeren (-to stagger).
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damp, domp - an exhalation. Cf. 1480, Caxton. From M.D. damp, domp. A ‘domp’ more intense than a ‘damp.’
dapper - pretty, spruce, neat, active. Cf. 1529 Skelton, ‘As dapper as any crowe’; Spenser, 1579, The Shepherds' Calendar, ‘Dapper ditties’. October 1, 13. Cf. Eng. dapperism, dapperling, dapperly, dapperness. From M.D. dapper - quick, strong. The present meaning of brave did not exist in the M.D., but to express that quality vrome, bout, or coene was used. Cf. Goth, gadaben, to fit, to be proper. Gadobs - proper. Cf. D. deftig.
das - a badger, rockbadger of the Cape. Cf. 1481 Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. das.
dauw - a South African species of zebra. From South African D. dauw.
deal - a thin plank of timber. M. Eng. dele. First found in 1402. From D. deel - plank.
to deck - to cover, adorn. First found in the beginning of the 16th century. From D. dekken, for the A.S. form is theccan.
deck - a ship's deck; a covering. From D. dek. Cf. two-decker, three-decker. With the meaning of second or third deck, the word is found in Eng. earlier than in D.
decoy - a pond or pool out of which run narrow arms covered with network into which wild ducks or other fowl may be allured and then caught. 1642 Evelyn's Diary: ‘We arrived at Dort, passed by the decoys, where they catch innumerable quantities of fowls.’ Cf. coy; to decoy. From D. de kooi, a shorter form of de eendekooi (ducks' cage).
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deese - dial. East-Sussex - a place where herrings are dried. Cf. to deese - to dry herrings. Cf. deesing-room, kipper-house. Cf. 1682, Collins Salt and Fishery. From M.D. deise - drying kiln, oast. Cf. Deeste, ast.
Delf, Delft - a kind of earthen ware. Made ready in 1310 at Delft.
dell - a deep hole, dale, vale. M. Eng. delle. From D. delle - valley. Cf. D. dal, Eng. dale. Derived very early.
dell - a young girl, a wench. Cf. 1567 Harman, Caveat. From D. del, M.D. delle, dille. Cf. D. dillen - to chatter. D. dille - chatterer.
derrick - a hangman, the gallows. From D. Dirk, the first name of a notorious hangman at Tyburn, about 1600.
deutzia - a genus of shrubs, natives of China and Japan, cultivated for the beauty of their white flowers. Called in 1701 after J. Deutz of Amsterdam.
to dewitt - to kill by mob or violence, to lynch. This verb was used frequently and is still to be found. Cf. 1689, Modest Enquiry, ‘It is a wonder the English nation have not in their fury de-witted some of those men.’ From the D. names Johan and Cornelius de Witt, statesmen and opponents of William III. Murdered by the people in 1672.
dikegrave - a Dutch officer whose function it is to take charge of the dikes or sea-walls; an English officer (in Lincolnshire) who has charge of the drains and sea-banks. From D. dÿkgraaf.
dobber - the float of an angler's fishing-line. From D. dobber.
dock - a basin for ships. Cf. to dock. First found in the beginning of the 16th century. From D. dok.
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dock - the enclosure in a criminal court in which the prisoner is placed at his trial. From D. dok - cage. Cf. Kiliaen.
dodkin, doydekin - an early name for the doit, a small Dutch coin. Found in Eng. already in 1415. From D. duit+kÿn. Cf. Eng. doit.
dogger - a vessel for herring- and cod-fisheries. Already doger is found in (1491) The Paston Letters. M.D. dogge, dogger, ten dogge varen. Dogger-trawl, net, a vessel fishing by means of trawl-nets. The doggerbank was the meeting-place for the doggers. Probably from D. dogger.
Doit - a small Dutch coin. Cf. Shakespeare's Tempest, 2nd Act. From D. duit, a small copper coin. M.D. doyt, duit.
dois - a crash. Cf. 1535, Stewart, ‘With sic ane dois togidder that tha draif.’ From M.D. dosen. (Cf. gedossen.)
dollar - a silver coin of varying value. From D. daler, daalder, which is derived from H.G. thaler - Joachin's Thaler, coin of silver from Joachimsthal in Bohemia, where the coins were made in 1519.
to domineer - to play the master. Cf. Shakespeare. From O.D. 1573 in Plantÿn, domineeren - to be noisy, which is derived from O. Fr. dominer. Cf. Lat. dominus.
dop - the cocoon of an insect; a small copper cup with a handle, into which a diamond is cemented to be held while being cut or polished. From D. dop.
dope - any thick liquid used as an article of food, or as a lubricant. From D. doop. Cf. doopen. Eng. to dip.
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dopper - a Dutch Baptist or Anabaptist. From D. dooper. Cf. D. wederdoopers.
dornick, darne - a kind of cloth named after the town Doornik in Belgium, and originally manufactured there. Already found in 1489.
dorp - a Dutch village. Cf. 1503 Stanyhurst - Aeneis. From D. dorp.
doxy - a disreputable sweetheart. Cf. 1530 Hicks-corner, Shakespeare. From O.L.G. Cf. O. Fries, dok - doll. Cf. Eng. duck; M.D. dockenspel.
dredge - an iron frame with a net, bag; a drag-net for taking oysters; a dredger for clearing the beds of rivers. From O. Fr. drège, a fishing-net, and this from D. dreg. Cf. Eng. dredger, dragnet; D. dregge, dregnet. M.D. dregge - hook, dredging-net. In Murray ‘A New Eng. Dictionary’ it is declared to be a pure Eng. word.
to drill - to pierce, to train soldiers. Cf. Ben Jonson alludes to it in his ‘Underwoods,’ 1637:
‘He that but saw thy curious Captain's drill
‘Would think no more of Vlushing or the Brill.’
From D. drillen, for the A.S. form is thirlan.
Eng. thrill. Cf. D. drilboor - drill (borer).
drossart - a steward, a high bailiff. Cf. 1678, London Gazette, ‘The drossarts of the country of Waes.’ From D. drossaard, drost-governor.
drug - a medical ingredient. M. Eng. drogge, drugge - herb. Cf. Fr. droquiste, Eng. druggist. From O. Fr. drogue, which is derived from D. droog. D. drogen - dried herbs. Cf. Eng. drogery - a drying place; droger - a boat to dry herring. Cf. Fr. droguer.
drugget - a coarse woolen cloth, to make rugs of. From O.F. droguet. Cf. Fr. drogue, which is derived from D. droog. Cf. Eng. drug.
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drumbler - a fast vessel, also a piratical ship of war. Cf. 1598 Hackluyt, Voyages. From D. drommelaar, drommeler - a kind of vessel. Cf. O. Fr. dromon, Eng. dromond.
duck, ducks - light canvas, trousers of this material. A maritime term of later times. From D. doek. H.G. tuch.
duffel - a kind of coarse woolen cloth. Also called: shag of trucking cloth, cf. And let it be a duffil gray. Wordsworth. Alice Fell. From D. duffel - a kind of cloth named after the village Duffel, between Mechelen and Lier. Cf. D. duffelsche jas.
duiker - a small South African antelope. So called from its habit of plunging through the bushes when pursued. From D. duiker.
dwile (Norfolk dialect) - a coarse towel or napkin, a mop. From D. dwiel. M.D. dwale, dwele. Cf. Eng. towel.
easel - a support, a wooden frame for pictures while being painted. From D. ezel.
ees - food, bait. M. Eng. es, A.S. aes. From M.D. aes - food. D. aas.
eland - a South African antelope. From D. eland, which is derived from Slav.
elger - an eelspear. Cf. Eng. algere. From M.D. elger. D. aalgeer - a large spear to catch eel. D. aalgeer, consists of aal (-eel) and geer. Geer is an old name for D. speer (-spear). Cf. A.S. gâr. M.D. gheer.
elzevir - a book printed by one of the Elzeviers; the style of type used by those printers. Cf. Elzevir type. From D. Elzevir - name of a family of printers at Amsterdam, The Hague, Leyden and Utrecht 1592-1680, famous because of their editions of the classics.
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Erasmian - pertaining to, or after the manner of Erasmus. A follower of Erasmus. From D. Erasmus, the famous Humanist 1466-1536.
erf - (in South Africa) - A garden plot. From D. erf.
excise - a duty or tax. Cf. 1596 Spenser's State of Ireland. From M.D. excÿs. Cf. 1406 Assay-books of the town of Leyden. Also M.D. accys and this from O. Fr. accens, cf. Fr. accise, D. cÿns, Lat. census.
faldore - a trap-door, a falldoor. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. valdoer - falldoor.
farrow - a cow that is not with calf. From M.D. verwekoe, varwekoe, a cow that does not calve any more.
filibuster - a pirate, freebooter. From Sp. filibustero, which is the Spanish pronunciation of the Eng. word freebooter, and this is derived from D. vrÿbuiter, cf. Eng. freeboater, flyboat.
to filter - to strain liquors. From O. Fr. filtrer, and this from Lat. filtrum and this from O.L.G. cf. D. filtreeren, vilt.
to fineer - to collect money. Cf. Goldsmith, Essays. From M.D. finieren, fÿneren - to collect money.
fimble - the male plant of hemp; fimble hemp. From M.D. fimele, a kind of hemp. Originally an adjective meaning female. Fr. femelle. Eng. female.
firkin - the fourth part of a barrel. M. Eng. ferdekyn 1423. From D. vierdevat cf. verrel. Perhaps fir - four and kin, diminutive cf. D. kilderkin.
fitchet, fitchew - a polecat. A form derived from O. Fr. fissel, plural (fissiaulx), later fissan. From older D. fisse, visse - a polecat. Cf. Killaen. Cf. D. vies, veest. Eng. foist.
flake - a pool, marsh. Cf. Linschoten, Voyages. From D. vlak. Cf. Kiliaen.
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flanders - D. Vlaanderen. Used as an adjective. Cf. Flanders brick, tile, flax, lace.
flandrican, Flanderkin. From Flanderenkin - an inhabitant of Flanders; Flemish.
fleming - a native or inhabitant of Flanders; a Fleming vessel. 1430 Lydgate. From M.D. Vlaming.
flemish - of or belonging to Flanders; the Flemish language. From M.D. Vlaemisch. D. Vlaamsch, Cf. Eng. a Flemish ell, rider, a Flemish account. Cf. a Flemish stitch, point, fake, coil, bond, brick.
to flemish - to coil or lay up a rope in a Flemish coil; of a hound to make a quivering movement with the tail and body. 1857. Ch. Kingsley, Two Years Ago, 18 ch. 1832 Marryat. From M.D. vlaemisch, D. vlaamsch.
flittermouse - a bat. 1547. Boorde. Brev. Health. We also find it a few times in Ben Jonson. From D. vledermuis. Cf. D. fladderen, and M.D. flederen.
to flounder - to flounce about. Cf. Beaumont and Fletcher. Nasalied form from L.L.G. Cf. D. flodderen.
flushing - a kind of rough woolen cloth, so called from the place Flushing. 1833 Marryat. P. Simple. D. Vlissingen.
flushinger - a Flushing vessel or sailor. From D. Vlissingen.
flyboat - one of the small boats used on the Vlie, afterwards applied in ridicule to the vessels used against the Spaniards by the Sea-Beggars 1572; a fast sailing ship, a flat-bottomed boat. From D. vlieboot.
fogger - a man who feeds and attends to cattle. Berkshire dialect. From D. fokker.
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fob - a pocket for a watch. Cf. Butler's Hudibras. Cf. D. fob - to cheat. From O.L.G. Cf. Bremen Wörterbuch fuppe.
fop - a coxcomb, dandy. Cf. foppery, fopling. Frequently found in Shakespeare. M. Eng. foppe. From D. foppen - to deceive. Cf. D. foppert, fopperÿ. Perhaps a Fries. word.
to formake - to make over again, to repair. Cf. 1483. Caxton, Vocal. From D. vermaken.
to forsling - to swallow down. Cf. 1481. Caxton, Reynard, where the past participle ‘verslongen’ is found, which is derived from M.D. ‘verlonden.’
to forslinger - to beat, to belabour. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. verslingeren.
forwything - reproach. Cf. Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. verwÿt.
to fother - to cover a sail with oakum; to stop a leak. Maritime term, first used in the 18th century. From D. voederen, voeren.
foy - a parting entertainment, cup of liquor, etc., given by or to one setting out on a journey; a feast. From M.D. foye. This M.D. word is derived from the Fr. voie, voye. Lat. via. Cf. Fr. voyage. Cf. D. fooi. The Eng. word fee has nothing to do with the D. fooi; it is one in origin with D. vee.
freebooter - a rover, pirate. Cf. Sidney State Papers, ‘The freebutters of Flushenge.’ From D. vrÿbuiter. Etymology of the people. From Fr. flibustier, a derivation from Span, flibote, derived from D. vlieboot. Cf. Eng. flyboat.
fraught - freight, hire of a vessel for the transport of goods. Cf. 1483 Caxton, Golden Legends. From D. vracht.
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frokin - a Dutch woman, a child. Cf. 1603 Dekker. From D. vronwken.
frolic - sportive, gay, merry. Cf. frolicsome, to frolic. Cf. Gascoigne ‘Fruites of Warre.’ A frolicke favour. From D. vroolÿk. M.D. vrs. H.G. fröhlich, froh.
frow - a woman, a Dutch woman. Cr. 1477. Paston, Letters. From D. vronw.
to fumble - to grope about. Cf. Sir Th. More, False fumbling heretikes. Fumble - fummle. From D. fommelen. Cf. Swed. famla, to grope.
funk, fonk - spark. Cf. 1330. R. Brunne. From M.D. vonke. D. vonk. Origin uncertain.
funk - cowering fear, a state of terror (slang). From D. fonck. Cf. Kiliaen, and Lye in Junius Etymologicum.
furlough - leave of absence. From D. verlof, vorlof. M.D. orlof. Cf. H.G. erlauben. In Sw. förlof, which word has about the same pronunciation as the Eng.
gas - an aeriform fluid. Cf. gaseous, gasometer. From D. gas, an artificial word. Name given by the Brussels chemist, J.B. van Helmont, about 1640, to the aeriform fluids, to which he first directed attention. The name was made by him and was taken by other languages. The Greek word chaos was in his mind. Cf. Van Helmont, Ortus Medicinae 1640.
gaffle - a steel lever for bending the crossbow; a spur for fighting cocks. Cf. 1497. Naval accidents. From D. gaffel - a two-pronged fork, used for various purposes.
gaylor - a dealer in earthenware. From D. gleyer, gleier, potter.
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garboard - the first range of planks laid upon a ship's bottom. Cf. 1606 Captain Smith. From D. gaarboord, gaderboord.
garnel - a species of shrimp. From D. garnaal.
geck - a fool, one who is derided, an expression of scorn. Cf. to geck - to mock. Cf. 1500 Dunbar. From O.L.G. geck, D. gek.
geitje - a venomous African lizard. South African D. geitje.
gemsbok - a South African antelope. South African. From D. gemsbok, Cf. D. springbok, steinbok.
geneva - a spirit distilled from grain. and flavoured with the juice of juniper berries. From D. genever, jenever. Cf. Eng. gin.
gherkin - a small cucumber. Cf. 1661 Pepys Diary. From D. agurk, augurk, agurkje and this derived from Slav. The ‘h’ is put into the Eng. word, while the ‘a’ is apocopated. The ending (k)in is diminutive.
gimp - silk or cotton twist with a cord or wire running through it; a fishing line. Cf. 1664. J. Wilson. From D. gimp, passement.
to glim - to shine, to gleam. Cf. 1481 Caxton, Reynard. ‘His eyen glymmed as a fyre.’ D. glimmen.
golf - the name of a game. Already known in England in 1457. Probably from D. kolf. M.D. colve. Cf. D. kolfbaan. Kolven - a game played with cudgels (-kolven) and balls.
Gomarist - a follower of Francis Gomar 1563-1641, who zealously defended Orthodox Calvinism in opposition to the doctrines of Arminius. From D. Franciscus Gomarus, Professor at Leyden, who defended the doctrine of predestination against Arminius.
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graff, graft - a trench, a ditch, a canal. Cf. 1641 Evelyn Diary. From D. graft, gracht.
grate - the backbone of a fish. Cf. 1481. Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. graet.
great-father - grand-father. Cf. 1484, Caxton, Aesop. And the mule answered: my grete father was a horse. From D. grotvader.
to grim - to be angry, to look fierce. Cf. 1481. Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. grimmen.
gripe - the piece of timber terminating the keel at the forward extremity. Cf. 1599. Hakluyt's Voyages. Maritime term. From D. greep.
groat - a coin worth 4 pence. M. Eng. grote 1351. From O.L.G. grote. 1351. From O.L.G. grote, a coin of Bremen. Cf. D. groot, of varying value. M.D. groot, grote. Originally the adj. groot (-large), used as substantive with the meaning thick, a thick (groote) coin. Cf. Eng. groatsworth.
groll - a foolish person. Cf. Bastwick Litany, 1637. Cf. Eng. grollery, grollish. From D. grol - foolish prattle. Cf. D. grollenmaker. Origin uncertain. Perhaps grol has been the name of some doctor or magician, but see: Verdam, Murray, Vocabulary of the D. Language, Franck.
groop - gutter in a stable, ditch, groove. Northamptonshire dialect. From M.D. groep - gutter. Cf. Eng. grip.
groove - a furrow, channel cut in wood, iron or stone. Already in 1400. Cf. Alexander. In fig. meaning humdrum way, cf. to groove; to engroone upon (Tennyson). From D. groef, M.D. groeve - groove in a side of a board. The making of these ‘groven’ is called ‘ploegen.’ Cf. D. ploegschaaf, groefschaaf; cf. graven.
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groundsop - sediment, dregs. Cf. 1440, 1530. Grounde soppe in lycoure. From D. grondsop.
to growl - impersonal verb. It growls me - I have a feeling of terror or horror. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard the Fox. From M.D. growelen; mi gruwelt seer. Cf. D. gruwen.
grozing-iron - a tool in the form of nippers formerly used by glaziers in cutting glass. From D. gruisÿzer. Cf. Eng. grozier.
gruel - liquid food. M. Eng. gruel, and this from O.L.G. Cf. D. grut, gort.
gruff - coarse, rough, surly. Already found in 1533. From M.D. grof. D. grof - heavy, clumsy. Origin uncertain.
grundy - groundling. Cf. 1570. Foxe. He was a short grundy and of little stature. From D. grontly, grundje - small fish.
grÿsbok - a small grey South African antelope. From D. grÿsbok (South African).
guelder-ros, gueldres-rose - a species of Viburnum, bearing large white ball-shaped flowers. So named from some resemblance of the flower to a white rose. Gueldres is the Fr. spelling of the name of the province Gelderland. D. Gildersche roos (Opulus). This flower is found wild in Holland.
guile - deceit. M. Eng. gile, gyle. From O. Fr. guile and this from O.L.G. Cf. Eng. wile. Origin uncertain.
guilder - a Dutch coin. Cf. 1483, Caxton, Dialogues. A changed form of D. gulden.
to gybe - to swing from one side of the vessel to the other; to cause to swing; to alter its course. From D. gÿpen. Cf. D. met een gyp - with a swing. The ‘gÿp’ is not used any more. The gaff takes its place.
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gyle - wort in process of fermentation. Cf. Eng. gyle-fat; gyle-ker. From D. gÿl, geil - yeast (in the brewery). Cf. gÿlen. Origin uncertain.
hackbut - a kind of gun. Cf. Eng. hackbus, harquebus, bowse, bus, arquebus. From Fr. haquebute, from D. haakbus, so called after the hook at the end of the barrel. M.D. haecbusse - small cannon.
hamlet - a small village. M. Eng. hamelet. From O. Fr. hamel et. Fr. hameau, and this from O.L.G. Cf. D. heem, heim, Eng. home.
hankspike - wooden bar, used as a lever, chiefly on board ship. From D. handspaak.
hans-in-kelder - an unborn child. Cf. 1635, Brome, Sparagus Garden, ‘Come here's a health to the hans in kelder.’ Is frequently found in Eng. of the 17th century. From D. Hansje in de kelder. Kelder, kildelap. Cf. de Dortsche Kil. Goth. kilthei.
harstrang, horestrong - hog's fennel. Cf. 1562. Turner, Herbal. ‘Peucedanum is named in Dutch Har Strang. Cf. M.D. harn - urine. H.G. harn.
hartebeest - a kind of antelope. South African. from D. hert+beest.
to hawk - to carry about for sale. Formed from the Eng. substantive hawker. Cf. Eng. hawker.
hawker - a kind of pedlar who travels about selling goods with a horse and cart. From O.L.G. hoker. Cf. D. heuker, hukker. Eng. huckster.
haye - a shark. Cf. Purchas. 1614. Cf. Eng. hay-fish. From D. haai.
heemraden - burghers appointed by the government to act as assessors in the district courts of Justice. South African from D. heemraad.
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herring-buss - a two or three masted vessel used in the herring-fishery. From D. haringbuis. Cf. Eng. bouse.
hobby - a small species of falcon. From O. Fr. hob. Cf. O. Fr. hober - to move and therefore so called after its movements. From O.L.G. Cf. D. hobbelen.
hogen mogen, hogan mogan - D. hoogmogendhedem, the High and Mighty, the Dutch, strong, mighty, a coward. Was frequently used in the 17th century.
hoiden, hoyden - a romping girl. Cf. 1593. Nashe. With older writers in Eng. mostly in the meaning: uncivilized boor. From M.D. heyden, heiden, man who lives on the heath (D. heide).
to hoist, to hoise - to heave, to raise tackle. Cf. Shakespeare. From D. hÿschen, hÿssen. Already derived early.
Holland - Dutch linen from the name of the country Holland. Cf. A shert of feyn Holland. Coventry Mysteries, 1502. A pece (of) Holland or any other lynnen cloth. Arnold's Chronicle. Cf. a brown Holland. Cf. Eng. a Hollander.
Hollands - gin made in Holland. Cf. British Hollands - gin distilled in England.
holliglass - a corruption of howleglass, owliglasse, owl glass - a buffoor. From D. Uilenspiegel. Uillenspiegel, which work was translated into Eng. about 1550.
holster - a leathern case for a pistol. A word of later times. From D. holster. Origin uncertain.
hop or hoppe - a plant introduced from the Netherlands into England about 1500 and used in brewing. Cf. hopvine, hopgarden. From D. hop. Origin uncertain.
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hope - a troop. Only in the phrase ‘forlorn hope.’ Cf. 1572. Gascoigne. Also in Sir Fr. Vere. The battle of Nieuport. From D. een verloren hoop - a troop soldiers. Cf. Kiliaen.
hottentot - one of the aborigines who formerly inhabited the Cape of Good Hope. The Dutchmen gave this name first to those natives because of their singular language which made people think that they were stammering. Cf. Hot en tot. Cf. Dapper. Beschrÿvingh der Afrikaanrehe Gewesten, 1670.
hoy - a kind of sloop. Cf. 1495. Paston Letters. An hoy of Dorderyght. Gascoigne, Fruits of War. M.D. hoede, hode, hoei, heude. Flem. huy - yacht, freight-ship. Origin unknown.
hoy - interjection, stop! When one ship hails another, the words are: What ship, hoy? - stop and tell the name of your ship. A maritime term. From D. huy! an interjection. Cf. ahoy.
hoarding, hoard - a fence inclosing a house while builders are at work. From O. Fr. hourde, and this from D. horde, M.D. gorde.
huckster - a pedler, a retailer, hawker, venter, kramer. Cf. hawker, to huck, hucker, huckle. Can be found already in 1205 in Ormulum under the form: huccster. From M.D. hoeker - retailer of groceries. D. dial heuker, hukker - grocer. Cf. hukken, huiken - somebody who is bent down under his burden or cognated with ‘hoek’ - in the meaning of store. Origin uncertain.
hull - the body of a ship. Cf. Minot Political Poems, ‘The gudes that thai robbed in holl gan thai it hide.’ To hull - floating around of a ship with lowered sails. Cf. Eng. hold. From D. hol, het hol (hold) of a ship. Eng. hull - shell. Cf. M.D. hulle - covering.
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to hustle, to hutstle - to toss, to push about, to jostle in a crowd. From D. hutselen, frequently of to hotsen. Cf. Eng. hustle-cap. M.D. hutssecruysen.
hunk - the goal, home in a game. From D. honk. Cf. D. van honk gaan; honken - to be on the resting-place, in playing at tag. Fries. honck-home.
Huyghenian - of or pertaining to Christian Huygens, a Dutch mathematician and astronomer, 1629-1695.
to inspan - to yoke oxen, horses in a team to a vehicle. From South African inspan. D. inspannen. Cf. to outspan.
isinglass - a glutinous substance made from a fish. Probably used as gelatine, and hence the corruption of the word by thinking of ice and the glassy appearance. From D. huizenblas, M.D. huusblase, H.G. hausenblas, and, according to some dictionaries, also huisblad, steurblaas. M.D. huut - a kind of sturgeon. Glue made of the sturgeon's bladder.
jagger - a sailing vessel which followed a fishing fleet in order to bring the fish from the busses. From D. haringjager.
jangle - to sound discordantly, to quarrel. M. Eng. janglen. From O. Fr. jangler, and this from O.L.G. Cf. M.D. jangelen, D. jengelen, janken.
kails, keils, kayles - nine-pins. Cf. M. Eng. kayles; Ben Jonson, Chloridia. From M.D. kegel, keyl. Cf. keylbaan. D. kegel.
kakkerlak - a cockroach, an albino. From D. kakkerlak - a beetle, a white native of Java.
to keek - to peep, glance. From D. kÿken. M.D. kiken.
keel - a flat bottomed vessel, a lighter. From M.D. kiel - a large seaship.
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to keelhaul - to haul a person under the keel of a ship. From D. kielhalen, which was abolished in 1853.
keest - sap, marrow, viguor. From D. keest - marrow, the best part.
kelder - the womb. Cf. Hans-in-kelder.
kelson, keelson - a line of timber placed along the floortimbers of a ship. From M.D. colswÿn. D. kolzwÿn, kolsem, a thick beam which is put on the inside along the keel to make it stronger.
kermis - a fair or carnival. Cf. Harrison 1577. From D. kermis.
kilderkin - liquid measure of 18 gallon. From M.D. kindekÿn, kinnekÿn. Already found in Eng. in 1390. Cf. Eng. a kilderkÿn of ale. In Dryden: a kilderken of wit. The word is derived from Lat. quinbale - one-fifth of the measure unit, a derivation from Lat. quinque. Cf. Firkin.
kink - a twist in a rope. First used in Eng. in the 17th century. Cf. D. konkel. M.D. conkel, een kink in den kabel. From D. kink - twist, from the same root as ‘konkel.’ Cf. D. konkelen.
kit - a vessel of various kinds, a milk-pail, tub, outfit - de ‘heele rommel.’ Cf. 1375. Barbour Bruce. M.D. kitte, kit - pitcher. Cf. D. kit, drinking-vessel, cup. M.D. cete, barn, shed. Cf. kot, keet, soutkeet.
klipspringer - a small antelope. From South African, D. klipspringer.
kloof - a deep narrow valley; a ravine. South African. D. kloof.
knapsack - a provision-bag, case for necessaries used by travellers, or soldiers. Cf. Eng. snapsack. Cf. Drayton, The Barons' War, 1603. And each one fills his knapsack or his scrip. From D. knapzak, satchel, bag; D. knappen - to eat. Cf. D. knabbelen.
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knicker - a marble. From D. knikker.
knorhan - a South African bustard. From D. knorhaan.
knuckle - the projecting joint of the fingers. M. Eng. knokel. From M.D. cnoke, cnokel.
knure, knur - a swelling, a knot in wood. M. Eng. knorre. From O.L.G. Fries, knure. Cf. D. knor - brush. M.D. cnorre. Cf. D. knoest, knorf.
koff - clumsy sailing-vessel with two masts. From D. kof.
kopje, koppie - a small hill. South African. From D. kopje.
kraal - a village of Hottentots, or other central African natives. From D. kraal.
krantz - a summit, a wall of rocks. From D. krans - kroon (kruin ) - crown.
kreng - the carcass of a whale from which the blubber has been removed. From D. kreng, and this from O. Fr. caroigne. Cf. Lat. caro - flesh.
lack - want, failure. M. Eng. lac, laccen. Cf. Eng. to lack. From O.L.G. Fries. lak. Cf. D. lak, laster. Cf. laken (denominative).
lager - an enclosure for protective purposes, such as a circular wall of stone, or a number of wagons lashed together. South African. From D. lager. Cf. leger.
lake - fine linen. Cf. Chaucer's Sir Thopas. From M.D. laken, D. laken.
lampas, hampors - a kind of glassy crape. From M.D. lampers - a transparent material. Is found in M. Eng. already in 1390 in the form of lawmpas. Origin uncertain.
lampoon - a personal satire. From Fr. lampon - drinking-song. Fr. lamper - to sing, and this
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from O.L.G. Cf. Fr. lapper - to lick up and also Fr. lampons - let us drink, which interjection is frequently found in drinking songs.
landdrost - a stipendary magistrate, who administers justice and receives the revenue of a district. South African. From D. landdrost.
landgood - a landed estate. From D. landgoed.
landgrave - a count of a province. Cf. landgravine. From D. landgraaf.
landloper - a vagabond. From D. landlooper.
landscape - the aspect of a country. Cf. A landscape painter, landscape gardening. The former spelling in Eng. was landskip. It was derived from the D. in the 17th century. From D. landschap.
lash - a thin flexible part of a whip, a stripe. M. Eng. lasshe. Cf. Chaucer. From O.L.G. laske. Cf. Eng. to lash.
to lash - to fasten firmly together. Maritime term. From D. lasch - strip, piece. Cf. D. lasschen, inlasschen. Origin uncertain.
to laveer - to beat to windward. Cf. 1595 Linschoten, translated by W. Philips. From D. laveeren. M.D. loveren. Cf. Fr. louvoyer, D. loef.
layman - a lay-figure. From D. leeman, ledeman - ledepop (pop-doll), or doll with movable arms, legs, etc., for painters.
lay-figure - layman. Formed by analogy of the work: layman.
leaguer - a camp. Cf. Shakespeare. From D. leger. Cf. to beleaguer.
leak - a hole or fissure in a vessel. A maritime term, first found in Eng. in 1407. From D. lek.
ledger - a book in which a summary of accounts is preserved, formerly called a ledgerbook. From
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D. legger (ligger), a book which is always lying ready.
lighter - a boat for unloading ships. Cf. lighterman. From D. lichter.
link - a torch. Corruption of lint. From D. lont. Cf. Eng. linstock.
linstock, lintstock - a stick to hold a lighted match. From D. lontstok. Cf. Eng. link.
litmus - a kind of dye. Cf. litmose blew. From D. lakmoes. M.D. lekmoes - reddish blue dye. Origin uncertain.
to loiter - to delay, to linger. M. Eng. loitren. Cf. lout - clown. Perhaps: to stoop like a lout. Cf. Spenser: he humbly loited. The idea probably has been to bow humbly like a lout, to steal, to delay. From D. leuteren. M.D. loteren - to stagger, to go to and fro. Cf. M.D. lutsen. The later meaning of delay, linger, is not found in M.D. Leuteren is a frequent of a not yet found verb, loten. A. S. lutan - to bow.
to loll - to lounge about lazily. M. Eng. lollen. From O.L.G. Cf. D. lollen - to hum, to sing, to talk, to trifle, to be lazy. Cf. lollepot - fire-pot around which people loll. Cf. Eng. to lull; lollard.
lollard - a name given to the followers of Wyclif. From M.D. lollaerd - brother of mercy, so called after their quiet singing and praying, called by the people in Holland lolbroeder, lollaard. Many of them were free-thinkers and therefore lollard got the meaning of free-thinker, heretic. Cf. D. lollen. Eng. to lull.
loon, lown - a base fellow. Cf. Shakespeare. From O.L.G. Fries. lön. Cf. D. loen - lout, stupid, slow.
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to lop - to cut branches off trees. Cf. Shakespeare. Already derived early. From D. lubben; past participle, gelubt - to cut, to make powerless.
luck - fortune, chance. From O.L.G. Fries, lück. Cf. D. geluk.
to luff, to loof - to turn a ship towards the wind. M.D. loeveren, loveren, loeveeren. The Eng. verb is perhaps derived from M. Eng. lof - a piece of wood, an oar. H.G. laffe. In Kiliaen loeve - rowing-pin. In the 16th century it was derived from the D. and taken into Eng. again. The origin is still uncertain. Cf. luff-tackle; aloof.
mangle - a roller for smoothing linen. Cf. Eng. to mangle. From D. mangel. M.D. mange, and this from Lat. manganum.
manikan, manakin - a little man, a dwarf. Cf. Shakespeare. From D. manneken, mannetje.
margrave - a marquis, a lord of the marches. Cf. ‘The Maregrave of Bruges,’ in the translation of Sir Th. More's Utopia, 1551. From D. markgraaf. Cf. Eng. margravine.
marish - a marsh. D. moeras. From O. Fr. maress, marez, and this from O.L.G.
marline - a small cord used for binding large ropes, to protect them. Cf. Dryden, Annus Mirabilis: ‘Some the galled ropes with dauby marling bind.’ From D. marlÿn, marling, a compound with the root of D. marren - to fasten. Cf. Eng. to mar. Goth. marzjan.
mazer - a drinking-bowl. M. Eng. maser. Cf. D. maser. Kiliaen. Cf. Eng. maple, measles. From O.L.G.
measles - contagious fever accompanied by small red spots on the skin. M. Eng. maseles. From D. mazelen, mazel, a diminutive of maas - spot.
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mercatte - an ape. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. mercatte, a sort of ape.
minikin - a little darling. Cf. Shakespeare. From D. minnekÿn, friend, loved. Cf. D. mÿne eerste liefde. Fr. amour.
minx - a pert, a wanton woman, or a pet dog. Cf. Shakespeare. A corruption from Fries. minske. Cf. D. minneken, my dearest.
mite - a very small portion, a small coin. Cf. Langland and Shakespeare. From M.D. mite - trifle, small coin. Cf. D. mÿt, M.D. mite. Cf. mÿt - insect.
mob - a woman's nightcap. Cf. mobcap. From D. mopmuts - nightcap.
to moor - to fasten a ship by cable and anchor. Cf. mooring, marline. From D. meren - to fasten. Lat. mora - delay. Cf. D. meertouw, meering, meerpaal. Perhaps moerscrew, a contraction of moeder. Cf. vastmoeren, has had some influence in deriving the Eng. word from the D.
mop - a grimace, to grimace. Cf. Shakespeare. From D. mop - grimace. Cf. Eng. to mope.
to mope - to be dull or dispirited. Cf. mopish. Cf. Eng. mop. From D. mop, moppen. Cf. D. mopperen.
morass - a swamp, bog. From D. moeras. The M.D. marasch, M. Eng. mareis, Eng. marish are taken from the Fr. marais. The younger forms of the Germanic languages D. maeras, H.G. morast, originated by thinking of maer. The Eng. morass is probably derived from D. moeras.
mow - a grimace (Cf. Shakespeare). From Fr. moue, and this from M.D. mouwe - a thick lip.
mud - mire. M. Eng. mud. From O.L.G. mudder. Cf. D. modder.
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to muddle - to confuse. A frequentative of Eng. mud; to confuse. From O.L.G. Fries. muddelen. Cf. Eng. to mud.
muffle - to cover up warmly. From O. Fr. mofle, moufle, and this from O.L.G. Cf. D. mof, moffel.
mummer - a masker, a buffoon. From O. Fr. mommeur, and this from D. mommer, mom. Cf. D. vermommen, mommelen. Cf. Eng. mummery, D. mommerÿ.
to mump - to mumble, to whine, to sulk, to beg. Cf. a mumper - beggar. Cf. Beaumont and Fletcher, Pedro. From D. mompelen, mommelen - to growl, to hum. This is a frequentative of mommen, sich vermommen, to speak within one's teeth, to make oneself irrecognisable. Cf. mom-mask. Cf. Eng. mumps.
mumps - a swelling of the glands of the neck. The disease renders speaking and eating difficult and gives the patient the appearance of being sulky. Derived from Mump. In D. they call it bof. Cf. Eng. mump.
mute - to dung, used of birds. From O. Fr. mutir, esmeltir, and this from O.L.G. Cf. D. smelten.
nag - a small horse. M. Eng. nagge. From O.L.G. Cf. D. negghe in Kiliaen. Cf. Eng. to neigh.
nick - a small notch. From O.L.G. Cf. Eng. to notch.
notch, nock - an indentation. M. Eng. nokke. Cf. to notch. From O.L.G. Cf. D. nocke - notch in an arrow to put it on the string. Kiliaen. Cf. Eng. nick.
to ogle - to look at sideways, to glance at. A verb found since the latter part of the 17th century. From D. oogelen. Tho the frequentative oogelen, from oogen, is not found in D., it may have
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existed formerly. (The use of it by Beets is an independent case.) It is found in Meyer's Woordenschat, oogeler.
oom - uncle. South African. From D. oom.
orlop - a deck of a ship. Maritime term. From D. overlope - overloop.
ort, orts - leaving, morsel left at a meal. From O.L.G. Fries. ort. Cf. D. orte, oorte - leaving.
to outspan - to unharness; Cf. een outspan - a place in the field where one unharnesses. Cf. to inspan. South African. From D. nitspannen.
owlglass - Cf. Holliglass.
pad - a thief on the high road. Cf. footpad, padnag. Cf. Massinger. A new way to pay old debts. From D. pad - road, path.
to pamper - to glut. From O.L.G. slamp-ampen. Cf. D. pampelen, slamp-ampen.
patch - a paltry fellow. Cf. Shakespeare. From O.L.G. Cf. Eng. patch. The meaning was a clown, so called after his patched or motley coat.
patch - a piece sewn on a garment. Cf. to patch. M. Eng. pacche. Cf. to stretch and D. strekken. A syncopized form of D. plak.
paw - the foot of a beast of prey. From O. Fr. poe, and this from O.L.G. Cf. D. poot.
to peer - to pry. M. Eng. piren. Cf. Shakespeare. From O.L.G. piren.
pink - a kind of boat, a fishing-boat. From D. pink - fishing boat. The origin is uncertain.
pitchyard - a signal, a flag. A kind of commando-flag, used as signal to get on board. From D. pitsjaar, derived from Malay bitjara - counsel. First used as the signal of an admiral's ship, when the admiral wanted to hold a council.
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placard - a bill stuck up as an advertisement. From Fr. placard, Cf. plaquer, and this from D. plakken.
plash - a puddle. M. Eng. plasche. From O.L.G. Fries. plasse. Cf. D. plas.
plump - full, round, fleshy. M. Eng. plomp - rude, clownish. Cf. Caxton, Reynard the Fox. From D. plomp - rude, clownish. M.D. plomp - shapeless, blunt.
to pry - to peer, gaze. M. Eng. pryen. The same word, through metathesis, as to peer. Cf. Eng. to peer.
quacksalver - a quack who puffs up his salves or ointments. From D. kwakzalver. Cf. kwaken, kwakken.
quail - a migratory bird. M. Eng. quaille. From O. Fr. quaille. From Lat. quaquila, and this from L.G. Cf. D. kwakkel, kwartel, wachtel.
queer - strange, odd. From O.L.G. queer, quere.
quyteskylle - to acquit of. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. quiteschelden. D. kwÿtschelden. Cf. Eng. to scold.
rabbit - a small quadruped. From D. robbe. The Eng. word is cony. Cf. dial. Fr. robette, rabotte.
rabble - a noisy crowd, mob. M. Eng. rablen - to speak confusedly. From O.L.G. Fries. rabbeln. Cf. D. rabbelen.
rail - a bar of timber, of iron. From O.L.G. Cf. D. regel, richel.
to rant - to use violent language. Cf. Shakespeare. From M.D. ranten - to speak, to rage. Origin uncertain.
to ravel - to untwist, to unweave. Cf. to unravel, Cf. Shakespeare. From D. rafelen. Already derived early. Origin unknown.
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reef - a portion of a sail that can be drawn close together. Cf. In Surrey: ryft. From D. reef - a small portion of a sail. Cognated with rib.
reef - a ridge of rocks. From D. rib, of the verb rÿven, and therefore: a split mass of rocks.
rider - a Dutch coin, worth about 24 shillings. From D. rÿder - gold coin, worth about $5.80.
to reeve - to pass the end of a rope through a hole or ring. A maritime term. From D. reven - to fasten the sails. Cf. Eng. reef.
rix-dollar - the name of a coin. Cf. Evelyn's Diary, 1641. From D. rÿkdaalder. Cf. Eng. dollar.
rover - a pirate, a wanderer. M. Eng. rover, rovare. Cf. to rove - to wander. From D. roover, rooven. Cf. Eng. to bereave.
to ruffle - to be noisy, a ruffle. From D. roffelen - frequentative of roffen - to carry something through by force.
rummer - a sort of drinking glass. Cf. Dryden. From D. roemer.
to rutsele - dial, to slide. From D. rutsen, rutselen - to slide. Cf. Van den Vos Reinaerde.
scalp - the skin of the head. M. Eng. scalp. From O.L.G. Cf. D. schelp.
scoff - a taunt. M. Eng. scof. From O.L.G. Fries. skoff. D. schoppen. Cf. Eng. to scoff.
to scold - to rail at. From O.L.G. Fries. schelden. Cf. D. schold, schelden.
scorbutic - pertaining to or afflicted with scurvy. From Lat. scorbutus, and this from L.G. schorbock. Cf. D. scheurbuik.
selvage, selvedge - a border of cloth. From D. selvegge, D. zelfkant. M.D. egge - sharp edge. Eng. edge. In Groningen people still call zelfkant, zelfegge. So called to distinguish it from the real border.
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to sheer - to deviate from one's course. A naval expression. From D. scheren, wegscheren. Cf. D. scheerje weg. Cf. Eng. sheer off.
shock - a pile of sheaves of corn. From O.L.G. schock. Cf. D. schok - sixty.
shock - a violent shake. M. Eng. schokken. From D. schok, schokken. Cf. Fr. choquer.
to shudder - to tremble with fear of horror. From O.L.G. Fries. schuddern. Cf. D. schudden.
skate, scate - a frame of wood or iron with a steel ridge, beneath it, for sliding on ice. The singular ought to be skates. People thought the ‘s’ was the ending of the plural. Cf. Eng. pea, cherry. From D. schaats. Origin uncertain.
sketch - a rough draught, an outline. Cf. Dryden. From D. schets, and this from Italian schizzo.
skew - oblique, wry. Cf. M. Eng. skewen - to turn aside. From O.L.G. Cf. D. schuw. Cf. Eng. skewbald, askew.
skipper - the master of a ship. From D. schipper.
to slabber - to slaver. From O.L.G. Fries. slabbern. Cf. D. slabben, slobberen.
slender - thin, feeble. From O.L.G. Cf. D. verslinden.
to slepe - to drag. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. slepen. D. sleepen.
slim - weak, slender, thin, slight, cunning. Only found lately. Especially in the Lincolnshire dialect. From D. slim. Cf. D. slimme wegen, een slim geval. M.D. slem. Origin unknown.
sloop - a one-masted ship. From D. sloap. Origin unknown.
slot - a broad, wooden bar, bolt of a door. From O.L.G. Fries. slöt. Cf. D. slot.
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sloven - a careless, lazy person. M. Eng. sloveyn. Cf. Coventry Mysteries. From D. slof - slow. Cf. D., sluipen.
smack - a fishing-boat. From D., smak - a vessel which is used for fishing or coasting-trade in the North Sea. Origin unknown.
smous - dial. Suffolk - a Jew. From D. smous, and this from Jewish German: Mausche, i.e., Moses.
snaffle - a bridle with a piece confining the nose and with a slender mouth-piece. Cf. Sir Th. More's Works. From D. snavel, sneb. Cf. D. snappen.
to snap - to bite suddenly, to snatch up. Cf. Shakes-peare. Cf. snappish, snap-dragon; to snap - to break suddenly, to seize. From D. snappen. Cf. D. snavel.
to snip - to cut off with shears or scissors. Cf. Shakespeare. Cf. snip-snap. From D. snippen, snipperen. Cf. snavel and snappen, and therefore: to pick to pieces with the bill.
snot - mucus from the nose. M. Eng. snotte. From O.L.G. Cf. D. snot, snuiten.
snow - a ship, a kind of brig. Cf. Falconer. From D. snauw - a ship with two masts; ship with a bill. Cf. D. snavel.
to snuff - to draw in air violently through the nose, to smell. From D. snuffen, snuiven, snuffelen.
spa - a place with a spring of mineral water. After the name of the place, Spa, near Liege, Belgium.
spellicans - a game played with thin slips of wood. From D. spelleken, speldeken - wooden pin.
spinde - a pantry, or larder, dial. From D. spinde - pantry.
to splice - to join two rope-ends by interweaving. Naval expression. From D. splitsen, splitten, intensive of D. splÿten - to split.
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spool, M. Eng. spole. A reel for winding yarn on. Introduced into England by Flemish weavers. From D. spoel. Cf. Fries. spole.
spoor - a trail. From D. spoor, of a wild beast.
to sprout - to shoot out germs. M. Eng. spruten. From O.L.G., cf. O. Fries. sprute, D. spruit.
stadtholder - Lord Lieutenant, title of the Princes of Orange. From D. stadhouder.
spynde - a pantry. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. spynde - spinde - pantry. Cf. Lat. spenda; expendere, Eng. to spend. D. spandeeren, spÿs. Cf. spinde.
staple - a chief commodity. From Fr. estaple and this from L.G. stapel. Cf. D. stapel.
to stay - to remain, to wait. Cf. Eng. staid - calm, serious. From O. Fr. estayer - to assist, to help, and this from D. staai, stade - assistance, leisure, opportunity. Cf. te stade komen.
to stipple - to engrave by means of dots. From D. stippelen, frequentative of stippen.
stiver - a Dutch penny. From D. stuiver.
stoker - one who tends the fire. Cf. to stoke. From D. stoker. Cf. steken.
stout - bold, strong. M. Eng. stout. From O. Fr. estout and this from O.L.G. Cf. M.D. stout.
strand - a string of a rope. With a paragogic ‘d’. From D. streen. M.D. strene. Cf. D. striem.
stripe - streak, a blow with a whip. From D. strÿp, streep.
to strive - to struggle, to contend. Originally a weak verb in the Eng. M. Eng. striven. From O.F. estriver and this from D. streven - to try, to contend.
stuf - dust. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. stof.
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sturgeon - a large fish. From Fr. esturgeon, étourgeon and this from D. steur. M.D. store.
supper - a meal at the close of the day. M. Eng. soper, super. From O. Fr. soper, super and this from O.L.G. Cf. D. zuipen. M.D. supen.
sutler - one who sells provisions in camp. Cf. Shakespeare. From D. zoetelaar - zoedelen; cf. zieden, koken, therefore: eating-house-keeper.
swab - to clean the deck. Cf. Shakespeare. Cf. D. swabber. Eng. swab from D. zwabberen, freqentative of zwabben.
switch - a small flexible twig. Cf. Shakespeare. From D. zwik - a twig. Cf. D. zwikken.
tafferel, taffrail - the upperpart of the stern of a ship. From D. tafereel - tafeleel and this from D. tafel, which is derived from Lat. tabula.
tallow - fat of animals melted. M. Eng. talgh. From O.L.G. Cf. D. talk.
tampion - kind of plug. From Fr. tampon and this from L.G. Cf. D. tap.
tang - a strong taste. From D. tanger - strong, biting. Cf. D. tenger, taai. Origin uncertain.
tattoo - spelled in 1627 taptoo - the beat of drum recalling soldiers to their quarters. From D. taptoe - doe den tap toe.
to tiff - to deck, dress out. From O. Fr. tiffer and this from O.L.G. Cf. D. tippen. Cf. D. het haar tippen.
to toot - to blow a horn. From O.L.G. Cf. D. toeten.
touch-wood - wood for taking fire from a spark; touch is a corruption of M. Eng. tache, tach. From L.G. Cf. D. tak. Therefore the meaning really is: tak (-branch) or stokhout (stick-wood).
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toy - a plaything. Cf. Shakespeare. Cf. to toy - to trifle, dally. From D. tuig, cf. speelting. Cf. tiegen, to draw.
to trek - to go to another place. South African. Cf. trekboer. From D. trekken.
trick - a stratagem, fraud, parcel of cards won at once, lineament. Cf. Shakespeare. Cf. to trick - to dress out, to adorn, to blazon. From D. trek, in many meanings.
trigger - tricker - a catch, which, when pulled, lets fall the hammer or cock of a gun. From D. trekker.
trinket, trinquet - the highest sail of a ship. From Fr. trinquet; this from Sp. trinquete and this from D. strikken with loss of the ‘s’.
tub - a small cask. M. Eng. tubbe, cf. Chaucer. Introduced into England by Flemish brewers. From D. tobbe, M.D. tubbe, cf. Fries. tubbe.
to tuck - to draw close together. From O.L.G. Cf. D. tokken - to draw, to attract.
to tug - to pull, to drag. From O.L.G. Cf. D. tokken, tiegen.
twill - woven stuff with an appearance of diagonal lines in textile fabrics. From D. twillen.
ungheluch - unhappiness. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. ongheluck. D. ongeluk.
unto - to, M. Eng. unto. It consists of und+to. Und from O.L.G. Cf. O. Fries. und. Goth. und. Cf. until.
uproar - a tumult, disturbance. Cf. Shakespeare. From D. oproer.
veldt - field. South African. From D. veld.
volksraad - the People's council; an elected legislative body. South African. From D. volksraad.
vrouw - woman. South African. From D. vrouw.
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vysevase - a folly, a whim. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. vysevase. Cf. D. fazelen, vazen, feziken.
wafer - a thin small cake. M. Eng. wafre. From O. Fr. waufre, gaufre and this from O.L.G. Cf. D. wafel, weven.
wagon, waggon - a wain, vehicle for goods. Cf. Spenser. The Eng. form of this word is wain, A.S. waegn. From D. wagen.
wainscot - panelled boards on the walls of rooms, cf. Shakespeare. From D. wagenschot - wandeschot; wagen by folk etymology from Fries. weeg-wall; A.S. wah - wooden wall.
walnut - a foreign nut. The first syllable is the name Waal. Cf. Wales, Cornwall.
wapper - cudgel. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. wappere - cudgel.
water-gueux - a name first given in contempt to the Protestant nobles and afterwards adopted by various bodies of Dutch in the wars with Spain. From D. watergeus.
wentele - to twist, to turn round. Cf. 1481, Caxton, Reynard. From M.D. wentelen - to turn.
wig - periwig - a peruke. From D. peruyk and this from Fr. perrigue. Cf. D. pruik.
wreck - destruction, ruin, cf. shipwreck. Already in the 13th century. M. Eng. wreck. From D. wrak - damaged, a damaged ship. Cf. D. getuigen wraken.
yacht - a swift pleasure boat. Cf. Evelyn's Diary 1661. From D. jacht, jachtship, fast ship. Cf. D. jagen.
yawl - a small boat. From D. jol - small vessel.