verschuiling

Verschuiling is a Dutch noun that denotes a hiding place, shelter, or means of concealment. It derives from verschuilen, a verb meaning to hide or take shelter, with the agent noun suffix -ing. In everyday Dutch, verschuiling can refer to any physical location used to hide from others or danger, such as a cave, shed, thicket, or a concealed corner. It can also be used in a figurative sense to describe an evasive position or a form of concealment in speech or behavior.

In historical and literary contexts, verschuiling is commonly found to describe concealed refuges used by fugitives, soldiers, or wildlife, as well as symbolic hiding places in tales and poetry. The plural verschuilingen is used when speaking of multiple hiding places.

Common synonyms include schuilplaats (shelter/hideout) and schuilen (to hide) as a verb; verschuiling is slightly more formal or literary. The term is most often encountered in Dutch-language texts and has limited use in everyday conversation, where more common terms may be preferred.

See also schuilplaats, verschuilen, verborgenheid.