What is "plattdeutsch"

German \Ger"man\, n.; pl. Germans[L. Germanus, prob. of Celtis origin.]

1. A native or one of the people of Germany.

2. The German language.

3. 1. A round dance, often with a waltz movement, abounding in capriciosly involved figures.

   2. A social party at which the german is danced.

      High German, the Teutonic dialect of Upper or Southern Germany, -- comprising Old High German, used from the 8th to the 11th century; Middle H. G., from the 12th to the 15th century; and Modern or New H. G., the language of Luther's Bible version and of modern German literature. The dialects of Central Germany, the basis of the modern literary language, are often called Middle German, and the Southern German dialects Upper German; but High German is also used to cover both groups.

      Low German, the language of Northern Germany and the Netherlands, -- including Friesic; Anglo-Saxon or Saxon; Old Saxon; Dutch or Low Dutch, with its dialect, Flemish; and Plattdeutsch (called also Low German), spoken in many dialects.

Plattdeutsch \Platt"deutsch`\, n. The modern dialects spoken in the north of Germany, taken collectively; modern Low German. See Low German, under German.

"Low German dialect of northern Germany," 1814, from German, from Dutch platduits, literally "flat (or low) German," from plat "flat, plain, clear" + duits "German" (see Dutch). In contrast to the speech of the upland parts of Germany.