Doubletten

Doubletten is a Dutch term with multiple meanings used in different contexts. In historical fashion, doubletten is the plural of doublet and refers to the close-fitting jackets worn by men in parts of Europe from the late Middle Ages into the early modern period. In contemporary usage, doubletten commonly denotes duplicate records or entries found in data sets, registries, inventories, or other lists.

In the context of clothing, the doublet was typically a waist- or hip-length garment that could be quilted or padded for shape. It was worn over a shirt and often depended on regional styles for variations in sleeves, cut, fabric, and decoration. Doubletten in this sense refer to multiple such garments or to references in historical sources describing different designs.

In data management and administration, doubletten refers to duplicates or near-duplicates within a collection of records. Duplicate entries can arise from data entry errors, merging of separate systems, or variations in naming and addressing. Managing doubletten involves deduplication, merging records, or assigning unique identifiers to ensure data quality and consistency.

Etymology and usage notes: the term stems from the Dutch adaptation of the French word doublet, with the plural form doubletten used in Dutch to describe both multiple garments and duplicate entries. While its primary contemporary use is in data contexts, it remains a recognized term in historical discussions of European costume.