English

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Alternative forms

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Proper noun

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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

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(antonym(s) of High German):

See also

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(High German):

Noun

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High Dutch (uncountable)

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