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)
- (originally) good-for-nothing
- (usually) rascal, scamp, a naughty boy
- (term of endearment) knave, amusing boy
Synonyms
- (kid) blaag, kind
- (rascal) bengel m, rakker m, rekel m
References
- M. J. Koenen & J. Endepols, Verklarend Handwoordenboek der Nederlandse Taal (tevens Vreemde-woordentolk), Groningen, Wolters-Noordhoff, 1969 (26th edition) [Dutch dictionary in Dutch]