Etymograph

English

Flying Dutchman

From flying + Dutchman.

A compound of flying + Dutchman

Proto-Germanic *fleuganą ‘to fly’

Old English flēogan ‘to fly’

Middle English fleynge

English flying

Middle English Ducheman ‘a Dutchman, a German’

English Dutchman

Today it means

name A mythical Dutch-flagged ghost clipper that sails very fast but never makes it to port, seen on the high seas, where its occupants may wish to contact or hear from persons long dead. In European naval folklore, it was considered to portend bad luck.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Flying Dutchman