High Dutch

English

Alternative forms

Proper noun

High Dutch

  1. (South Africa) The standard Dutch language, especially the literary Dutch language of the Netherlands, as contrasted with Cape Dutch or Afrikaans. [from 19th c.]
  2. (archaic) High German. [from 16th c.]
    • 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Studious to Learn the Language, the Houyhnhnm His Master Assists in Teaching Him. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 188:
      The Emperor Charles V, made almoſt the ſame Obſervation, when he ſaid, That if he were to ſpeak to his Horſe, it ſhould be in High-Dutch.
    • 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:
      [H]is impatience increased, he swore in high Dutch, the noise of the wheels on his pavement saluted his ears, his vexation redoubled […] .

Antonyms

(antonym(s) of “High German”):

See also

(High German):

Noun

High Dutch (uncountable)

  1. (now rare) Double Dutch; nonsense. [from 17th c.]
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