maatje

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch maatje.

Noun

maatje (plural maatjes)

1. A fermented herring.
   • 1987, David Butcher, Following the fishing:

     The maatje herrin' were very popular over in Germany. That was a very light cure with just a fine sprinkling o' salt.

   • 1997, John Bayley, The red hat:

     […] with Charles making quite a good shot at playing the obliging husband, I seized the chance of buying and eating a maatje.

Dutch

Etymology 1

Diminutive of maat +‎ -je. Compare English matey.

Noun

maatje n (plural maatjes)

1. maatjesharing, a young herring
2. (literally) a small maat:
   1. a small size, measure etc.
   2. a young or tiny mate
3. also used as an informal address for a male

Descendants

• → English: maatje
• → Polish: majtek

See also

• bokking
• pekelharing, stokvis

Etymology 2

Diminutive of ma (“mom”) +‎ -tje.

Noun

maatje n (plural maatjes)

1. diminutive of ma