akkefietje

Dutch

Alternative forms

• akefietje
• akevietje, akkevietje (obsolete)

Etymology

First attested in the 1830s. Apparently a diminutive in -je or -tje. The first part might be borrowed from West Frisian akkefyt (“chore”), but the further origin is uncertain. The usual explanation connects it with Latin aqua vitae (“liquor, especially spice-flavored”); compare Norwegian akevitt, German Aquavit etc. However, the semantic development remains open to conjecture. An alternative theory derives it from a corrupted or enhanced form of officie (or West Frisian offysje, affysje), from Latin officium (“duty”). Finally it has been speculated to be from *akefi, a supposed expression of disgust; compare akelig (“loathsome”) and fi (“ugh, fie”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɑ.kəˈfitjə/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ak‧ke‧fiet‧je
• Rhymes: -itjə

Noun

akkefietje n (plural akkefietjes)

1. a chore, small job
2. something insignificant
3. a minor problem, something that went wrong
4. (archaic) a nasty job