raadsheer

Dutch

Alternative forms

• raedtsheer (obsolete)
• raetsheer (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle Dutch raetshere. Equivalent to raad +‎ -s- +‎ heer.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈraːts.ɦeːr/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: raads‧heer

Noun

raadsheer m (plural raadsheren, diminutive raadsheertje n)

1. a male councillor
2. a justice (high-ranking judge) of either gender
3. (chess) a bishop

   Synonyms: bisschop, loper

Usage notes

• The sense "justice" is used of both genders (sometimes vrouwelijke raadsheer is specified explicitly, but not usually), although there are efforts underway (as of 2023) to introduce raadsdame as official legal terminology in the Netherlands.