spijkerbroek
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Dutch[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Compound of spijker (“nail (metal fastener)”) + broek (“trousers, pants”). Named after the use of rivets in jeans, which were thought to resemble the heads of nails. Cf. Afrikaans klinknaelbroek (literally “rivet trousers”).
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
spijkerbroek f (plural spijkerbroeken, diminutive spijkerbroekje n)
- (Netherlands) A pair of jeans.
- De heler verkocht de gestolen spijkerbroeken op de markt bij zee, waar ze zeer in de smaak vielen.
- The fence sold the stolen jeans at the market near the sea, where they appealed to many people's tastes.
Usage notes[edit]
Not used in Flanders, where the loanword jeans is used instead.