pimpelmees

Dutch

Cyanistes caeruleus in Nederlandsche vogelen, 1770-1829

Etymology

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

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɪmpəlˌmeːs/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: pim‧pel‧mees

Noun

pimpelmees f (plural pimpelmezen, diminutive pimpelmeesje n)

1. blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Derived terms

• pimpel

References

• van der Sijs, Nicoline, editor (2010), “pimpelmees”, in Etymologiebank, Meertens Institute

Further reading

• pimpelmees on the Dutch Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^nl