burgerrups

Dutch

Etymology

From burger (“middle-class person”) +‎ rups (“caterpillar”).

Noun

burgerrups f (plural burgerrupsen, diminutive burgerrupsje n)

1. (Netherlands, university slang, humorous, somewhat derogatory) Synonym of trein (“train”)

Usage notes

• The word is associated with kakker students (belonging to preppy fraternities and sororities, known as studentenverenigingen), who affect an elitist, upper-class attitude of superiority with regards to the middle-class (though many of them nonetheless belong to that same middle class); this explains the disdainful connotations imparted by this term.