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The attribution of "bushwhacker" as coming from the Dutch "forest keeper" surprised me, as the compound word bushwhack already makes sense as a description of t

The attribution of "bushwhacker" as coming from the Dutch "forest keeper" surprised me, as the compound word bushwhack already makes sense as a description of the activity and a quick search indicates both bush and whack were already present in English prior. The Oxford English Dictionary etymology of the word just indicates it is a compound formed from those two English words[0]. Online Etymology Dictionary does mention a possible connection to the Dutch however[1]. It would be interesting to know why etymologists make the connection to the Dutch. [0]: https://www.oed.com/dictionary/bushwhacker_n https://www.oed.com/dictionary/bushwhacker_n [1]: https://www.etymonline.com/word/bushwhacker https://www.etymonline.com/word/bushwhacker Edit: it seems the English sense of the word bush as meaning "the wilderness" came to it from the Dutch bosch via the American colonies[2], maybe that's the connection. [2]: https://www.etymonline.com/word/bush#etymonline_v_18128 https://www.etymonline.com/word/bush#etymonline_v_18128

oktoberpaard 3y ago
In Dutch we have the word “boswachter”, which means something like forest keeper. In old Dutch it was probably spelled “boschwachter” or something similar.
ycombinete 3y ago
South African English uses bush in this sense as well. I anssume it’s via the Afrikaans “bosveld”. In fact English speakers will often retain the “veld”, using the term bushveld. (Nobody says bushfield). It has a specific meaning [0], but is also used generally to mean the wilderness. I’m not sure if it has a meaning in Dutch other than as “forest field”. [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushveld https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushveld
throwaway154 3y ago
I assumed it was an Australian amalgamation of bush and whack that can be imagined to mean exactly what it means, like a lot of words do, perhaps inspired by a loose overheard memory, perhaps not. I can't really imagine an American saying it. I can imagine an Australian.
- SyzygistSix 3y ago
  People say bushwhack in the US. It means not using an established trail when out in the woods/wilderness.

oktoberpaard 3y ago

In Dutch we have the word “boswachter”, which means something like forest keeper. In old Dutch it was probably spelled “boschwachter” or something similar.

ycombinete 3y ago

South African English uses bush in this sense as well. I anssume it’s via the Afrikaans “bosveld”. In fact English speakers will often retain the “veld”, using the term bushveld. (Nobody says bushfield). It has a specific meaning [0], but is also used generally to mean the wilderness. I’m not sure if it has a meaning in Dutch other than as “forest field”. [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushveld https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushveld

throwaway154 3y ago

I assumed it was an Australian amalgamation of bush and whack that can be imagined to mean exactly what it means, like a lot of words do, perhaps inspired by a loose overheard memory, perhaps not. I can't really imagine an American saying it. I can imagine an Australian.

SyzygistSix 3y ago
People say bushwhack in the US. It means not using an established trail when out in the woods/wilderness.