Talk:Dutch courage
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I became curious about the origin of the expression "Dutch courage" after seeing someone use it on a website I frequent. I found several different explanations and still have no idea which one, if any, is correct. But this is certainly the most interesting explanation.
Autarch Severian — Preceding unsigned comment added by Autarch Severian (talk • contribs) 04:35, 19 October 2011 (UTC)
As far as I know, Dutch courage came from the time of the plagues. When England was engulfed in the black death, the Dutch were the only people brave enough to sail to the English coast and do trading. The way the trading was done, involved the English placing trading goods on the beach, then they would retreat end the Dutch would go on shore and pick up the trade goods in exchange leave their trade goods. The man that was brave enough to go on shore got drunk, as they thought that it would protect them from the black death.
I have to say that I can not say if the story is true, but it is a nice one.
Scubafish
More specifically: during an alliance with the Dutch, English soldiers noticed the practice of drinking a tot of gin (jenever) at stand-to and before battle. Gin was introduced to Britain after this time. Martin Doherty 16:43, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
My understanding is that it comes from the Black Death. The Dutch ships were the only ones brave enough to sail into London during the plague. They were responsible for bringing in wines from the continent, therefore when people toasted they drank to the "Dutch Courage".
As a reward Dutch ships were later given "free port entry" to London.
24.22.73.41 02:31, 30 November 2006 (UTC) As an American, my colloquial understanding of the word "Dutch" is quite the opposite of that stated here. We associate the term "Dutch" reflexively with "good". Note the term "it beats the Dutch". In England "Dutch" may be synonymous with "bad", but in colloquial American the term is strongly positive.
24.22.73.41 02:31, 30 November 2006 (UTC)
- In the UK we don't generally attribute any meaning to "Dutch" other than from or of the Netherlands.Mnealon (talk) 04:20, 30 June 2011 (UTC)
Removed from article page
Whilst studying at University I was required to do a literature research project on the "Perceived effects of alcohol, 1600-1800s." During this time I found numerous original newspaper articles citing the origin of the phrase "Dutch courage" relating to when the English and Dutch were at war.
The phrase was linked specifically to the difficulties English forces had in overcoming Dutch forces along the Dutch coast despite outnumbering the defending forces by a ratio of 3 to 1. The main reason for the ferocity of the Dutch forces was claimed to be due to their common bouts of drinking large amounts of gin and/or absinthe or other alcohol during battles. Hence, the term 'Dutch courage' being applied to the decreased sense of fear experienced by individuals when they have consumed alcohol.
I found no evidence during the research regarding the bravery of Dutch traders or sailors delivering goods to London during the plague. However there was a link between London, gin, and the Dutch. This link is best illustrated in the graphical works of William Hogarth, especially his drawings entitled "Mother Gin" and "Gin Lane". The Dutch link is that the downward spiral of English (London) society, as depicted by Hogarth, was associated with English soldiers returning from the wars with the Dutch (as mentioned above) and bringing gin and absinthe with them.
