Dutch uncle

noun

: one who admonishes sternly and bluntly

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Dutch uncle was in 1837

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Dutch uncle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Dutch%20uncle. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!