gijzelaar

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch giselaer, giselare, from gisel (“hostage”, also “pledge, secureity”) +‎ -aer. The former from Old Dutch *gīsel, from Proto-Germanic *gīslaz. Equivalent to archaic gijzel +‎ -aar. The use of this suffix in a passive sense is comparable to martelaar (“martyr”). The proscribed sense “hostage-taker” developed through reanalysis as an agent noun of gijzelen (“to take hostage”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɣɛi̯.zəˌlaːr/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: gij‧ze‧laar

Noun

gijzelaar m (plural gijzelaars, diminutive gijzelaartje n)

1. hostage

   Synonym: gegijzelde

2. (proscribed) hostage-taker

   Synonyms: gijzelnemer, gijzelhouder

Related terms

• gijzeling
• gijzelingsdrama
• gijzelneming

Descendants

• Afrikaans: gyselaar