windmolengevecht

Dutch

Etymology

Apparently coined by Menno ter Braak in 1931. Compound of windmolen (“windmill”) +‎ gevecht (“fight”). An allusion to Don Quixote.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʋɪnt.moː.lə(n).ɣəˌvɛxt/
• Hyphenation: wind‧mo‧len‧ge‧vecht

Noun

windmolengevecht n (plural windmolengevechten, diminutive windmolengevechtje n)

1. (chiefly figurative) pointless fight (useless resistance)