Dutchman

[JEB66]

For many years I have been wondering where the term "dutchman" came form. Every time a new engineer comes along, they ask me about the origins and I have to say, it is a very old term. Does anybody have any insight?

For those that have not heard of the term, it is used for a new piece of tube that replaces a damaged section of tube in a Steam Generator.

I have heard some people say it is from the fairy tale about the dutch boy who stopped the damn leak with his finger.

 

[arto]

It's also used for a pin with the axis between 2 surfaces, in shear or for locating. It gives much more shear area.
[i.e., DxL, vs. .785xD^2]

 

[metengr]

Ok. The term "dutchman" could also apply to word and masonary repairs where a splice is installed to match orginal form and function. This repair term has apparently been carried over to other componets and equipment over the years.

With this being said, I would expect that this term orginated from dutch repair folks who worked with either wood or masonary (this is probably as good of a guess as the dutch boy fairly tale).