maatjesharing

Dutch

Etymology

From haring (“herring”). The element maatjes- is an alteration of maagdjes (“virgins”), maatjesharing being caught at a point in the life cycle of the fish where it has not spawned yet or formed any milt or roe (thus being "virgin"); the herring is intentionally caught during this window (from roughly late May until early July) as its quality is considered superior to that caught earlier or later in the year.

Pronunciation

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Noun

maatjesharing m (plural maatjesharingen, diminutive maatjesharinkje n)

1. Herring caught during late spring and early summer, having had time to fatten up after winter but before having produced any milt or roe, eaten (raw) as a delicacy.

   Hyponym: Hollandse Nieuwe

Further reading

• Hollandse Nieuwe on the Dutch Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^nl