English words from Middle Dutch
5 English words with Middle Dutch in their history, whether borrowed directly or passed on through other languages.
bully
First recorded in 1538 as a term of endearment, of uncertain origin; probably borrowed from Middle Dutch boele (“lover”), perhaps an alteration of broeder “brother”. Compare Middle High German buole…
bumpkin
It is of uncertain origin. It is perhaps borrowed from Middle Dutch bommekijn (“little barrel”), a diminutive of bomme “cask”; the American Heritage Dictionary also suggests Flemish boomken “little…
buoy
It is inherited from Middle English boye, probably borrowed from Middle Dutch boeye or Old French boie, buie, of disputed origin. One view derives these from a West Germanic word meaning “signal…
dapper
It is inherited from Middle English daper (“elegant”), probably borrowed from Middle Dutch dapper (“quick, strong”), or Middle Low German, where it meant “bold, sturdy” and later “quick, nimble”. It…
easel
It is borrowed from Dutch ezel (“ass; easel”), inherited from Middle Dutch esel, which comes from Latin asinus (“ass”) or from its diminutive asellus. It is related to Old English esol (“ass”).