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kruiser

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Etymology and origin of the Dutch word kruiser

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1589 More words from the 16th century
Ultimate origin
Latin crux
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Dutch kruisen
English cruise
Dutch kruiser
English cruiser

Pronunciation

  • /ˈkrœy̯.sər/[1]

Forms

kruiser m (plural kruisers, no diminutive)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Dutch kruisen + -er, an agent noun: one who or that which crosses or cruises, in the various senses of the verb.[2][1][3] The warship sense comes from kruisen in the sense “to sail quickly back and forth”: in the 17th century fast warships used to cruise off Shetland to meet the homecoming fleets from the Indies and escort them home.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The oldest record, from 1589, belongs to the sense of crucifying: Christ prayed on the cross for his Cruyssers, the men who crucified him.[2]

Semantic evolution

In 1623 the word could mean someone who crosses another's path, a hindrance.[2] The naval sense is dated to 1634 by Van der Sijs; in the oldest quotation the EWN cites, of 1643, the kruyssers are privateers, which used the same tactic to find their prey.[5][4][2] Later the word named a class of ships built for scouting, blockade and convoy duty, and today it usually means a fast naval vessel; in yachting it is also a kind of yacht.[2][4][6]

The naval word has parallels in German Kreuzer, French croiseur and English cruiser.[2] English cruiser (1670s) is an agent noun of cruise, or probably borrowed from Dutch kruiser or French croiseur.[7] Van der Sijs lists the Dutch word as the source of words in German, Danish krydser, Swedish kryssare and other languages.[8]

Timeline

  • 1589 – Cruyssers “crucifiers” is recorded.[2]
  • 1623 – The word is used of someone who crosses another's path.[2]
  • 1634 – The sense “warship” is first recorded.[5]
  • 1643 – Kruyssers are privateers lying in wait at sea.[4][2]
  • 1670s – English cruiser appears.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A cruiser, a fast warship: De kruiser verliet de haven.[6][1]
  2. A kind of yacht.[6][3][2]

Word family

  • pantserkruiser

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
  3. ^ a b WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org
  4. ^ a b c d Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
  5. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  6. ^ a b c Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  8. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
Cite this entry

“Kruiser.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/nl/kruiser. Accessed 16 Nov. 2026.

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