Netherlandish

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to the historical regions, culture, or people of the Netherlands
2. Pertaining to the Dutch language or its variants as spoken in the Netherlands
3. Characterizing customs, art, or traditions originating from the Netherlands

Etymology: "Netherlandish" is a plain formation: the noun "Netherland," an older English name for the Low Countries, with the suffix "-ish" added to mean "of or relating to." The "Netherland" element itself is native English, from Old English "neoþera," meaning "lower," so the name describes low-lying land. The adjective therefore carries the same sense of "lowland" that the country's name does. The adjective has a close relative, "Netherlandic," which is used mainly in linguistics, so "Netherlandish" is the more general and everyday of the two. Its ordinary use is in describing art and people associated with the region.

Synonyms: Dutch, Hollandish, Flemish, Frisian, Low Countries