diminutivum tantum

Borrowed from Latin diminutīvum tantum (“only diminutive”).

diminutivum tantum n (plural diminutiva tantum)

1. (grammar) A diminutive noun which has a meaning that (unlike a regular diminutive) is not entirely predictable given the base noun it is derived from, or which is not derived from any base noun at all and exists only in diminutive form.

   Hypernym: verkleinwoord

   non (“nun”) → nonnetje (“smew, Mergellus albellus”)

   ∅ → lieveheersbeestje (“ladybug”)

• English Wiktionary's coverage of Dutch diminutiva tantum
• Dutch Wiktionary's coverage of Dutch diminutiva tantum