waterwolf
Dutch
editEtymology
editCoined 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
editNoun
editwaterwolf 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
editwaterwolf m
- (literary, Netherlands) the Haarlemmermeer