waterwolf
Dutch
Etymology
Coined by Joost van den Vondel in Aen den Leeuw van Hollant (1641), a work of propaganda for draining the Haarlemmermeer. Compound of water (“water”) + wolf (“wolf”).
Pronunciation
Noun
waterwolf m (plural waterwolven, diminutive waterwolfje n)
- (literary, Netherlands) water (personification of water as the national enemy)
- (Netherlands) any body of water that is a threat to nearby land
Antonyms
- (personification): landleeuw
Proper noun
waterwolf m
- (literary, Netherlands) the Haarlemmermeer