Double Dutch
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Gibberish, jargon, of a foreign tongue not understood by the hearer. Dutch is a synonym for foreign; and double implies something excessive, in a twofold degree.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Double Dutch” mean?
Gibberish, jargon, of a foreign tongue not understood by the hearer. Dutch is a synonym for foreign; and double implies something excessive, in a twofold degree.
Is “Double Dutch” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.