FromMiddle Dutchsuster, fromOld Dutchswester, fromProto-Germanic*swestēr, fromProto-Indo-European*swésōr. The sense “nurse” from the fact that (before the Reformation and in Catholic areas until recently) the majority of nurses were nuns; already in Middle Dutch generalized to lay nurses.
zuster f (pluralzusters,diminutivezustertje n)
- (somewhat formal, dated)sister(female sibling)
- Synonym:zus
- sister(fictive female kin member)
- sister(nun)
- Synonym:non
- (female)nurse(woman who provides care for the ill)
- Synonyms:pleegzuster,verpleegster,ziekenzuster
- (female medical nurse):Zuster generally is not used anymore as a job title in medical organisations, whereverpleegkundige,verpleger orverpleegster (the latter specifically for women) are the usual titles. It remains a common term in everyday language, however.
zuster (pluralzuster-zuster)
- (dated)sister
- (dated)nurse
