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houten klaas. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
houten klaas, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
houten klaas in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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Dutch
Etymology
Mentioned as early as 1720 by Carolus Tuinman in the sense “stolid, phlegmatic person”.
Pronunciation
Noun
houten klaas m (plural houten klazen, diminutive houten klaasje n)
- stolid, phlegmatic person
2003, Bas Heijne, Het verloren land. Opmerkingen over Nederland, Prometheus, section 99:Rosenmöller begreep de implicatie: inderdaad, ‘Surinaamse mensen’ waren spontaner, inniger en hielden er een diep besef van vriendschap op na, waar ‘wij houten klazen’ nog heel wat van konden leren.- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- stiff, woodenly moving person
- 2015, Catalijn Claes, Morgenstond. Roman, Uitgeverij Zomer & Keuning.
‘Soldaat Weisz.’
‘Jawel, luitenant.’
‘Sta daar niet als een houten klaas.’
‘Wat bedoelt u?’
‘Kom in beweging. Een houten klaas kan zijn land niet verdedigen als er gevochten moet worden.’- (please add an English translation of this quotation)