Dutch

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Etymology

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Compound of melkboerenhond (milkman's dog) +‎ -en- +‎ haar (hair). Milkmen's dogs were often of unknown or mixed breeds.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /mɛlk.buː.rə(n)ˈɦɔn.də(n)ˌɦaːr/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: melk‧boe‧ren‧hon‧den‧haar

Noun

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melkboerenhondenhaar n (uncountable)

  1. (derogatory) damaged and light, often yellowish, outgrowths of hair [from early 1880s]
    • 1883 July 5, Samanaca, "Het Persfeest", Algemeen Handelsblad (morning edition), No. 16711, page 2.
      De bediening geschiedde door middeneeuwsche Jan's of beter moderne schaffers in middeneeuwsche kleederdracht met pruiken van melkboerenhondenhaar en geverfde roode wangetjes.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)