nachtmerrie

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch nachtmerie, nachtmere, likened to merrie (“female horse”) through folk etymology; the actual formation is from nachtmare. Equivalent to nacht +‎ mare.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɑxtˌmɛ.ri/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: nacht‧merrie

Noun

nachtmerrie f (plural nachtmerries, diminutive nachtmerrietje n)

1. (also figurative) nightmare (bad dream)
2. (obsolete, derogatory) ugly woman, witch

Derived terms

• dagmerrie
• nachtmerrieachtig
• nachtmerriescenario

 

Descendants

• Afrikaans: nagmerrie
• → Papiamentu: nagmèri, nakmèri

See also

• droom
• visioen