pimpelmees
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Dutch
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Nederlandsche_vogelen_%28KB%29_-_Cyanistes_caeruleus_%28044b%29.jpg/220px-Nederlandsche_vogelen_%28KB%29_-_Cyanistes_caeruleus_%28044b%29.jpg)
Etymology
[edit]Second element from mees (“titmouse, chickadee”), first element uncertain. Presumably from a word describing the bird's small size (compare pimpeltje (“small glass”), from pimpelen (“drink with small sips”)). But, the latter words could have instead come from pimpelmees as they are attested a century later. Also compare southern Dutch pepel (“butterfly”) and Flemish pimpaljoentje (“ladybug”). Or, possibly imitative. Or, less likely, from blauw (“blue”), referring to its crown.
Pronunciation
[edit]Noun
[edit]pimpelmees f (plural pimpelmezen, diminutive pimpelmeesje n)
Derived terms
[edit]References
[edit]Further reading
[edit]pimpelmees on the Dutch Wikipedia.Wikipedia nl