Edited by Azizi Powell
Here's a breakdown of the information found:
Dutch Influence: Dutch settlers did bring jump rope games to New Amsterdam (now New York City) in the 17th century.
English Perception: The English, upon observing these children playing, are said to have dubbed the game "Double Dutch" because they found the Dutch language and culture confusing or strange, and therefore incomprehensible. The term "Double Dutch" itself has
existed in English slang to mean incomprehensible speech or nonsense for a long
time.
Evolution of the Game: The game of Double Dutch, played with two ropes turned in opposite directions, became particularly popular among African American girls in urban areas, especially in New York City, where it flourished as a street activity.
Formalization and Competition: In the 1970s, New York City police officers David Walker and Ulysses Williams formalized the rules of Double Dutch and turned it into a competitive team sport. The first official competition was held in 1974.
So we have a Dutch Agreement, which is an agreement made between drunken men. We have Dutch Courage, which is also produced by drinking alcohol. Dutch Headache means a hangover, and a Dutch Concert is a drunken uproar. And Dutch Leave, which means AWOL or leaving the base without telling anyone.
We also have Dutch Treat, or Going Dutch, which means that when you go out on the town, there are separate checks. And a Dutch Nightingale, which is a frog.
Another formerly common expression is " in Dutch" , which means in trouble. It may be related to the phrase, "to speak like a Dutch uncle" -- meaning to let a person know he's in the wrong without mincing words.
* At the time they were brothers mostly in the Cain and Abel sense, or brothers at arms."...
** 2. Maurits Dijkstra, 2018[related question: "What does Double Dutch Mean?"] "Double Dutch means talking complete nonsense making no sense at all.
Dutch people, mainly sailors and fishermen, have been visiting British ports for centuries. In a time when education was not common, most of these people would not speak any English. and even if they could speak English, they would speak Dutch amongst each other, in the harbour pub. Dutch is completely unintelligable to English speakers and would sound strange and harsh.
So someone talking Dutch would make no sense at all. Talking double Dutch would even be worse."
** 3. Ned Ramm, 2018 [related question: "What does Double Dutch Mean?"] "It means the speaker cannot be understood.English, Dutch and German are sister languages which in the dark ages (early middle ages) were mutually understandable dialects.
In the later middle ages the English word ‘dutch’ was borrowed from a version of the word that became ‘Deutsch’ in German and now means ‘German’. In the middle ages it was used to refer to all Germanic speakers in the Holy Roman Empire which then included the Netherlands.
By that time the dialects of the Netherlands were just about understandable to Middle English speakers. The dialects of Southern Germany were not - so Double Dutch referred to them.
When the dialects of the Netherlands and those of Southern Germany became seen as separate languages the term Dutch was reserved for the dialects nearer to England - those of the Netherlands." ** 4. Anonymous, 2020 "Why double Dutch in the expression It 's all double Dutch to me ?"
In spite of all appearances to the contrary, this phrase - meaning, 'nonsense', or 'gibberish' - does not seem to have originally been spoken with the Dutch in mind at all. Rather it was once intended as a slur against the Germans, those rascally scapegoats of the 20th Century,
although my research suggests that even at the time (late 1700s - early 1800s),
this little detail might not have been apparent to your average slurrer.
'Dutch' was originally the generic name for both Germans and, as they were formally called, Hollanders. High Dutch was the language of southern Germany and Low Dutch the language of The Netherlands. I have been at least partially persuaded that 'Double Dutch' is in fact a synonym for High Dutch and as such involves the Germans and not the Dutch.
In the way of so many of the greatest idioms, 'Double Dutch' originated from sailors. Indeed, the first recorded usage of the phrase, and many subsequent usages, refer(s) to Double Dutch in terms of the winding of rope. The indication here is that 'Double Dutch' is the linguistic equivalent of a badly coiled rope. Those sailors really knew how to make a man feel small.
There are a host of phrases in English that include the word 'Dutch'. Given the close proximity of the two countries, their proud maritime traditions and their long standing trading and military rivalries, this is hardly surprising."
**** SOURCE #3 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Dutch_(jump_rope)"Double Dutch is a game in which two long jump ropes turning in opposite directions are
It is widely acknowledged that modern Double Dutch originated in the United States among girls in predominantly Black urban communities during the 1940s and 1950s, who congregated on street corners to display new tricks and repurposed clotheslines as ropes.[1][2][3] While it had long been a popular street activity for African American girls in New York City,[4] the rules of the sport were formalized in the early 1970s by NYPD officers Ulysses Williams and David Walker. The first official competition was held in 1974. Competitions in Double Dutch range from block parties to the world level. During the spring of 2009, Double Dutch became a varsity sport in New York City public high schools.[5] In the early 1980s, Double Dutch was strongly associated with New York hip hop culture.[6] It has also been recognized as an element of the genre by notable MCs such as KRS-One.[7]
Although it is popularly claimed the activity was brought to America by Dutch settlers, the term "double Dutch" itself has long existed in English slang, where it originally referred to incomprehensible speech or nonsense, reflecting historical English views of the Dutch language as confusing or strange. Phrases such as "in Dutch," meaning to be in trouble, further illustrate this pejorative connotation. The use of the term "double Dutch" for the game reflects the visual complexity and perceived challenge of the jump-roping, similar to the confusion implied by the idiom.[8]"... **** SOURCE #4 AI Overview [in response to my question August 10, 2025 on Google "When was the term "double dutch first used to refer to a type of jump rope?"]
"The term "double dutch" to refer to the rope jumping game likely originated in the early 1900s in the United States, particularly in urban areas, as a way for children, especially African American girls, to socialize and showcase their skills. It's believed the name was given by English speakers who found the game, brought over by Dutch settlers, "unintelligible" or confusing.Here's a more detailed look:
Dutch Origins:
The game itself, where two ropes are turned in an "eggbeater" fashion while a third person jumps, has roots in the Netherlands, according to the International Double Dutch League.
Arrival in the US:
Dutch settlers brought the game to the trading town of New Amsterdam (now New York City).
English Nickname:
The English, upon encountering the game, reportedly used "Double Dutch" as a derogatory term for anything they found confusing or incomprehensible.
Evolution into a Game:
Over time, the game evolved into a popular activity, especially among girls, who would sing rhymes and chants while jumping.
Post-WWII Popularity: Double Dutch gained significant traction in the mid-20th century, particularly in cities, as a way for children, especially African American girls, to socialize and express themselves through physical activity and creativity.
Formalization: While always a street activity, Double Dutch was formalized as a competitive sport in the early 1970s by Ulysses Williams and David Walker, with the first official competition held in 1974. -snip- The bold font is used in this original quote. The words in italics highlight the main topic of this pancocojams post. -snip- The International Double Dutch League, originally the American Double Dutch League or the National Double Dutch League, was founded in 1974 by David Walker and Ulysses Williams. David Walker and Ulysses Williams were African American (New York City) police offers.
With all due respect for their legacy, these police officers weren't historians or folklorist and weren't other wised trained in tracing the origins of cultural activities.
Notice that this excerpt indicates that Double Dutch had its roots in Dutch immigrant jump rope. . This evolution from the early 20th century Dutch immigrants' style of jumping in New York to that more intricate jumping activity should be credited to African American girls.
**** SOURCE #5 AI Overview [This is a result of my August 10, 2025 request for a description of the jump rope activities that the Dutch immigrants in New York did which evolved to Double Dutch jump rope.] "History - National Double Dutch League
Double Dutch jump rope, as it's known today, is believed to have evolved from a game brought to New York City by Dutch immigrants. While the exact details of their jump rope activities are not explicitly detailed, it's theorized that they involved turning two ropes simultaneously, which is the core mechanic of Double Dutch. These immigrants likely used the ropes for leisure activities, and over time, the game developed into the more complex and structured form seen today.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Two Ropes, Opposite Directions:
The defining characteristic of Double Dutch is the use of two long ropes, turned in opposite directions by two people.
The "Eggbeater" Style: The turning of the ropes is often described as an "eggbeater" style, where the ropes move in an inward, circular motion.
Jumping in the Rhythm: Jumping into the ropes requires coordination and timing, as the jumper must enter and exit the ropes in sync with their turning rhythm.
From Leisure to Sport: While initially a street game, Double Dutch has been formalized into a sport with rules, competitions, and even international leagues.
Cultural Significance: Double Dutch holds cultural significance, particularly within the African American community in New York City, where it gained popularity in the mid-20th century. It has been seen as a way for girls to express themselves and build community.
Evolution and Complexity: Over time, the game has evolved to include more complex moves, such as incorporating balls, stones, or even passing the rope twice before landing.
Beyond the Streets: The development of formal rules and competitive leagues has helped Double Dutch transition from a street game to a recognized sport." **** SOURCE #6 From https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/hip-hop/double-dutch-jump-in/ "Double Dutch: Jump In!"[No writer or publishing date given; retrieved August 10, 2025]
"All you need is some space and a little rhythm and your body comes alive.…. Who were the first kids to ever jump a rope for the fun of it? You’d have to take a time machine back thousands of years. Various clues lead to Ancient Egypt and China. From there, it eventually skipped its way to Europe and the Netherlands, and the Dutch are credited with bringing it to North America in the 1600s. One of their jump-rope games evolved into “Double Dutch,” and American kids and teens have been turning twin ropes ever since. Girls in particular took to it, aided by a shift from long dresses to skirts with pantaloons around 1800.
Double Dutch really took off in the 1940s and 1950s, especially in northern U.S. cities. For many African American girls and young women there, Double Dutch became much more than a game. Using clotheslines, braided rope, and even super-long phone cords, they took it onto the streets where girls might jump from morning till night. The tick-tack-tick-tack of the ropes laid down a beat not only for jumping but for rhymes and game songs that became part of the tradition. Often turned away from guy-dominated sports, girls doing Double Dutch transformed jump roping into a realm all their own. They introduced moves, etiquette, chants, and traditions that passed from girl to girl and generation to generation.
In the 1970s, a couple of New York police officers, Ulysses “Mike the Cop” Williams and David Walker, sought to use this love of Double Dutch as a tactic to promote positive choices for teen girls. Walker created the American Double Dutch League (ADDL), and for a while, McDonald’s
restaurants sponsored local and national Double Dutch tournaments.
The competition could be intense. Teen girls were pushing what was possible between the ropes. They introduced back flips, handstands, and other acrobatic moves that were shared back and forth between them; they also incorporated breaking, the dance style of Hip Hop (and not by accident).
Hip Hop and Double Dutch of the 1970s were developing side-by-side in the neighborhoods of New York, Baltimore, Chicago, and other U.S. cities, and the two gladly sampled from each other.
Today, Double Dutch has diverged onto two distinct paths. For the more competitive, it is an intense competition featuring uniforms and judges, becoming a sport that has spread worldwide. For others, “street Double Dutch” continues as a neighborhood tradition that binds together girls and women—especially African American girls and women—in a powerful, joyful tradition that brings together rhythm, song, dance, teamwork, and friendship"..
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