Flying Dutchman
Preserved but no longer current.
In the superstitions of seamen a spectral ship that is supposed to haunt the southern seas round the Cape of <3ood Hope. She is only to be seen in stormy weather and bodes no good to those who pass her.
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 “Flying Dutchman” mean?
In the superstitions of seamen a spectral ship that is supposed to haunt the southern seas round the Cape of <3ood Hope. She is only to be seen in stormy weather and bodes no good to those who pass her.
Is “Flying Dutchman” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.