deugniet

Dutch

Etymology

From deugen (“to be good”) +‎ niet (“not”); parallel to cognate German Taugenichts and Danish døgenigt (the latter of which took on a somewhat different sense).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdøːx.nit/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: deug‧niet

Noun

deugniet m (plural deugnieten, diminutive deugnietje n)

1. (originally) good-for-nothing
2. (usually) rascal, scamp, a naughty boy
3. (term of endearment) knave, amusing boy

Synonyms

• (kid) blaag, kind
• (rascal) bengel m, rakker m, rekel m

Descendants

• Negerhollands: deugniets

References

• M. J. Koenen & J. Endepols, Verklarend Handwoordenboek der Nederlandse Taal (tevens Vreemde-woordentolk), Groningen, Wolters-Noordhoff, 1969 (26th edition) [Dutch dictionary in Dutch]