Dutch wife

English

WOTD – 6 April 2008

Etymology

Compound of Dutch (“inferior substitute”) +‎ wife.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /ˌdʌtʃ ˈwaɪf/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪf

Noun

Dutch wife (plural Dutch wives)

1. A long body-length bolster (pillow) that can be held or wrapped around one's body while sleeping.

   Synonyms: body pillow, dakimakura, love pillow

   • 1959, Anthony Burgess, Beds in the East (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 490:

     His eyes wide with surprise and fear, he clutched tightly the bolster — sweat- absorbing bedfellow of sleepers in the East — known as a Dutch wife. [...] "What do you mean? Who are you?" Maniam's great eyes, his black skin oiled with sweat, Maniam's hands pudgily clutching his Dutch wife.

2. In East Asia and Southeast Asia, a wicker or bamboo tube the size of a person for use in the bed. In the summer heat, the open bamboo structure is cooler than fabric pillows or sheets. The Dutch wife is embraced by the user, exposing the maximum amount of the body to cooling breezes.

   Synonyms: bamboo wife, bolster

Translations

long body-length pillow — see body pillow

bamboo tube for use in bed

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 竹夫人 (zh) (zhúfūrén)

• Japanese: 竹夫人 (chikufujin)
• Korean: 죽부인 (ko) (jukbu'in)
• Vietnamese: trúc phu nhân