diefstal

Dutch

Etymology

From late Middle Dutch diefstal, from Middle High German diepstale, from diep (“thief”) + stale (“theft”). The former part has the same origin as dief, the latter is from Old High German stāla, from Proto-Germanic *stēlō. Replaced the Middle Dutch word diefte, which still survives in some dialects.

Pronunciation

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Noun

diefstal m (plural diefstallen, diminutive diefstalletje n)

1. theft

Synonyms

• (obsolete) diefte

Derived terms

• winkeldiefstal