verstandskies

From verstand (“intellect, wit, brain”) +‎ -s- +‎ kies (“molar”), a loose calque of Latin dēns sapientiae, itself a calque of Ancient Greek σωφρονιστῆρες (sōphronistêres).^[1]

A somewhat common folk etymology holds that it derives from ver (“far, distant”) + stand (“position”) + -s- + kies (“molar”), but this is incorrect; early attestations frequently cite the Latin or mention either its derivation from verstand or its synonym wijsheidstand; furthermore the suggestion is in disagreement with the pronunciation.

• IPA^(key): /vərˈstɑntsˌkis/

• Audio:

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• Hyphenation: ver‧stands‧kies

verstandskies m (plural verstandskiezen, diminutive verstandskiesje n)

1. (chiefly Netherlands) wisdom tooth [from mid 19th c.]

• wijsheidstand