eikel

Eikel is a Dutch noun with two main senses. The primary meaning is acorn, the nut produced by oak trees. An acorn is a seed with a hard shell and a cup-shaped cap called the cupule that partly covers the nut. Acorns mature in the oak’s fruiting cycle and provide a food source for wildlife; in some traditional cuisines, processed acorns have been used as a staple after leaching tannins. Ecologically, acorns support birds, squirrels, and other mammals and contribute to forest ecosystems.

The second sense is vulgar slang for the male genitals and is also used as a pejorative for a foolish or irritating person. As slang, it is crude and generally avoided in formal writing; tone and context determine offensiveness. It can appear in everyday speech among friends in a joking context, but may offend.

The word is most commonly encountered in Dutch contexts, including education, media, and literature. The acorn sense is neutral and technical, while the slang sense reflects informal speech and is not appropriate in formal communication.