Dutch courage, also known as pot-valiance or liquid courage, refers to

courage Courage (also called bravery or valor) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in battle. Physical courage is bravery in the face of physical pain, h ...

gained from intoxication with

alcohol Alcohol most commonly refers to: * Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom * Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks Alcohol may also refer to: Chemicals * Ethanol, one of sev ...

History

The popular story dates the etymology of the term ''Dutch courage'' to English soldiers fighting in the Anglo-Dutch Wars (1652–1674) and perhaps as early as the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). One version states that

jenever Jenever (, ), also known as Hollands, genever, genièvre, peket, or sometimes as Dutch gin (archaic: Holland gin or Geneva gin), is the juniper-flavored traditional liquor in the Netherlands, Belgium and adjoining areas in northern France an ...

(or Dutch gin) was used by English soldiers for its calming effects before battle, and for its purported warming properties on the body in cold weather. Another version has it that English soldiers noted the bravery-inducing effects of jenever on Dutch soldiers. Gin is a Dutch invention, and was first distilled in Holland in the 16th century. The flavouring in gin comes from juniper berries. The Dutch word for 'juniper' is 'jenever', which got

Anglicised Anglicisation is the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by English culture or British culture, or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-English becomes English. It can also refer to the influen ...

to 'ginever' and then finally to '

gin Gin () is a distilled alcoholic drink that derives its flavour from juniper berries (''Juniperus communis''). Gin originated as a medicinal liquor made by monks and alchemists across Europe, particularly in southern Italy, Flanders and the Ne ...

'. Gin would go on to become popular in Britain thanks to King William III of England (William of Orange, ), who was also

Stadtholder In the Low Countries, ''stadtholder'' ( nl, stadhouder ) was an office of steward, designated a medieval official and then a national leader. The ''stadtholder'' was the replacement of the duke or count of a province during the Burgundian and H ...

of the Netherlands.

References

{{Reflist, refs= {{cite web , url=https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-68084,00.html , title=Where does the phrase 'going Dutch' originate? , website= The Guardian , access-date=26 December 2022 {{cite book , chapter=Dutch , title=Oxford English Dictionary , edition=2nd , date=1989 , publisher= Oxford University Press {{cite web , url=https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/what-is-the-origin-of-the-phrase-dutch-courage/ , title=What is the origin of the phrase 'Dutch Courage'? , first=Eugene , last=Byrne , website=HistoryExtra , date=26 July 2013 , access-date=26 December 2022 {{cite web , url=https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/dutch-courage.html , title=Dutch courage , first=Gary , last=Martin , website=phrases.org.uk , access-date=26 December 2022

History

See also

References

Further reading