Dutchmen

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term referring to men from the Netherlands, often associated with specific cultural traits or behaviors
2. a colloquial expression for individuals demonstrating Dutch characteristics
3. sometimes used in historical contexts to denote Dutch seamen or traders from earlier centuries

Etymology: "Dutchmen" is the plural of "Dutchman," a noun for a man from the Netherlands. The singular form, "Dutchman," is the older of the two in common use, and it has long been the standard way to refer to a native of the Netherlands in English. The plural simply follows the usual English pattern, with the same "-men" ending used in "Englishmen" and "Frenchmen." The word "Dutch" itself comes from the Middle Dutch "dutsch," meaning the people and language of the Low Countries, and the same root gave English its earlier sense of "German" in many older uses. Over time "Dutch" narrowed to refer specifically to the Netherlands, so "Dutchman" carries that narrower meaning today.

Synonyms: Dutch, Hollanders, Netherlanders, people, men