sinter claes

Middle Dutch

Etymology

Probably from sint (“saint”) +‎ Claes (shortened form of Nicolaas).^[1]^[2]

The -er in the first component is of uncertain origin. Suggested to be due to the influence of other saints' names, such as Sinter Meis (from Sint Remeis) and Sinter Makel (from Sint Remakel).^[1] Also suggested is that sinter is a feminine dative form of sint, from the expression sinter claes misse (“Saint Nicolas' mass”).^[2] Otherwise thought to be a dialectal form of sint or from an earlier *sinten(e) (from sint Ni-).^[3] Compare also modern Dutch Sintermaarten.

Also suggested to be a contraction of sint + hêre (“lord”) + Claes,^[4] calqued from Middle French monsieur saint Nicolas.^[2] This has, however, been disputed.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Proper noun

sinter clâes

Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas

Descendants

Dutch: Sinterklaas
Limburgish: Sinterklaos

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 van der Sijs, Nicoline, editor (2010), “sinterklaas”, in Etymologiebank, Meertens Institute
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 J. Vercoullie (1915) “Sinterklaas”, in Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsche taal-en letterkunde‎^[1], volume 34, page 32
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Ria Jansen-Sieben (1968) “Sinterklaas en andere sinter-namen”, in Taal en Tongval‎^[2], volume 20, page 104
^ G. J. Van Wyk, editor (2003), Etimologiewoordeboek van Afrikaans

[EB-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 van der Sijs, Nicoline, editor (2010), “sinterklaas”, in Etymologiebank, Meertens Institute

[TNTL-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 J. Vercoullie (1915) “Sinterklaas”, in Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsche taal-en letterkunde‎^[1], volume 34, page 32

[TT-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Ria Jansen-Sieben (1968) “Sinterklaas en andere sinter-namen”, in Taal en Tongval‎^[2], volume 20, page 104

[4] G. J. Van Wyk, editor (2003), Etimologiewoordeboek van Afrikaans

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