Dutch gleek
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Tippling. Gleek (q.v.) is a game, and the phrase implies that the game loved by Dutchmen is drinking.
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 “Dutch gleek” mean?
Tippling. Gleek (q.v.) is a game, and the phrase implies that the game loved by Dutchmen is drinking.
Is “Dutch gleek” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.