waterwolf

Dutch edit

Etymology edit

Coined by Joost van den Vondel in Aen den Leeuw van Hollant (1641), a work of propaganda for draining the Haarlemmermeer. Compound of water (“water”) +‎ wolf (“wolf”).

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): /ˈʋaːtərˌʋɔlf/
Audio (file)
Hyphenation: wa‧ter‧wolf

Noun edit

waterwolf m (plural waterwolven, diminutive waterwolfje n)

(literary, Netherlands) water (personification of water as the national enemy)
(Netherlands) any body of water that is a threat to nearby land

Antonyms edit

(antonym(s) of “personification”): landleeuw

Proper noun edit

waterwolf m

(literary, Netherlands) the Haarlemmermeer