Dutch

The word Dutch when used alone, has several possible meanings in the English language. Most, if not all, of these meanings are in reference to the European country The Netherlands, its people or culture.

The term "Dutch", when used by itself can refer to:

• The Dutch language
• The inhabitants of the Netherlands

"Dutch" is often confused with German "Deutsch". English "Dutch", German "Deutsch", and Dutch "Dietsch" are actually variations of the same word. It seems that "Dutch" used to be a generic term to refer to Netherlanders and Germans alike. Today, the English word only refers to the Netherlands.

The label "Dutch" is found in a number of terms and expressions:

• Dutch courage,
• Dutch chocolate,
• Dutch disease,
• Dutch door,
• Double dutch,
• Dutch oven,
• Dutch uncle,

and the phrase "going Dutch".

Several of these are derogatory terms which result from Anglo-Dutch wars.

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