Black Dutch

English + Afro-Dutch Alternative forms en black Dutch Etymology In reference to Germans, a mangled calque of en de schwarze de Deutsche black Germans under influence from en Dutch. Noun * en US obsolete _ or _ historical A European with dark hair, eyes, and skin, especially one from or claiming to be from Germany or the Netherlands, sometimes en pejorative ethnic slur with disparaging racial overtones. 1875 December, American Bibliopolist, p. 260: The same usage still prevails among the vulgar as in the phrases, 'black Irish', 'black Dutch', describing certain well known types of Celts and Teutons (Hollanders, probably), differing widely from the prevailing type of either race in respect of their black eyes and hair, and gypsy-like, tawny complexions. 1997 March, James Pylant, "In Search of the Black Dutch", American Genealogy Magazine, Vol. 12, No. 1: There are strong indications that the original "Black Dutch" were swarthy-complexioned Germans. Anglo-Americans loosely applied the term to any dark-complexioned American of European descent... By the mid-19th century, the term had become an American colloquialism; a derogative term for anything denoting one's small stature, dark coloring, working-class status, political sentiments or anyone of foreign extract. en US obsolete _ or _ historical A person passing for such a European, especially Native Americans or people from multiracial families. 1997 March, James Pylant, "In Search of the Black Dutch", American Genealogy Magazine, Vol. 12, No. 1: There are strong indications that the original "Black Dutch" were swarthy-complexioned Germans... The term was adopted [by some] as an attempt to disguise Indian or infrequently, tri-racial descent. A Dutch citizen with sub-Saharan African ancestry. en Afro-Dutch en US A member of the Sinti ethnic group in North America, especially those of German-Sinti ancestry; an American-Sinti person. en 2008 Smithsonian Institution Migrations: Gypsies in the United States Gypsies from Germany, whom de Wendler-Funaro refers to as Chikkeners (Pennsylvania German, from the German Zigeuner), sometimes refer to themselves as 'Black Dutch'. 2017, Pamela W. Reilly, "Romani and Sinti in Pennsylvania", in Pennsylvania Heritage Magazine, Spring 2017: Sinti from Germany and the Netherlands, known as "Black Dutch" or "Chikkeners," in Pennsylvania Dutch (from the German word "Zigeuner"), arrived in the 1800s as well. Related terms en black Irish, en Pennsylvania Dutch en multiword terms en People Netherlands Germany United States Racism Multiracial