Meanings
plural hinnerdales
- DutchEnglishPennsylvaniainformalHindquarters, butt.
She preferred a swift smack on the hinnerdale with the spatula. It didn't hurt, but it got her point across.
2019 June 25, Jennifer Beckstrand, Andrew, Zebra Books, →ISBN5 more examples
The pictures of the magazine ladies were shameful, what with their short pants practically baring their Hinnerdales. Betsie ignored them while she waited for her turn to check out. “Thanks for shopping at Ayers Market,” the cashier told[…]
2013 September 25, Stephanie Reed, The Bargain: A Novel, Kregel Publications, →ISBNIf she slid, she feared her feet would slip out from under her, and she would end up on her hinnerdale. “Stop,” Tyler said. “You're going to kill yourself skating like that.” He let go of one of her hands so he could skate beside her.
2014 October 7, Jennifer Beckstrand, Huckleberry Christmas, Zebra Books, →ISBN, page 167[page 8:] "Maybe, Mandy Helmuth, you should get your superior little hinnerdale off my[…]" [page 18:] Was he going to yell at her to mind her own business or tell her to get her little hinnerdale out of his way?
2015 May 26, Jennifer Beckstrand, Huckleberry Harvest, Zebra, →ISBN“That boy is just begging for a hinnerdale full of buckshot.” Lily stifled a giggle. “He's teasing you, Aunt B.” “Of course he's teasing. But dandelions are serious business. He shouldn't tease about my dandelions.
2016 July 1, Jennifer Beckstrand, Sweet as Honey, Zebra Books, →ISBN“I think what he needs is a kick in the hinnerdale," Esther said. Cathy grunted in amusement. “Believe me, he's been kicked just about everywhere else.”
2021 June 29, Jennifer Beckstrand, The Amish Quiltmaker's Unruly In-Law, Zebra Books, →ISBN, page 233
Origin
Probably from Pennsylvania German (or in Amish/Mennonite use in reference to a hat-part, from Low German / Plautdietsch), cognate to German Hinterteil.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
hinnerdale. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hinnerdale
“hinnerdale.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hinnerdale. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hinnerdale,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hinnerdale.
Source: hinnerdale on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.