The Dictionary of Jutlandic dialects (Jysk Ordbog, JO) documents the dialects of Jutland and its surrounding islands as they were primarily spoken by the rural population during the period 1870–1930. As a historical documentation dictionary, JO is descriptive in its practical lexicographic foundation. In JO’s meta-text and descriptive language, reference is made to a linguistic norm, often referred to as rigsdansk (Standard Danish), although the term is used ambiguously in JO. In some cases, it refers to Danish orthographic conventions as outlined by The Danish Language Council, and therefore often shares headwords with The Danish Dictionary (Den Danske Ordbog). In other cases, rigsdansk refers to a norm in spoken Danish, but as there is none, this is far more ambiguous; the term as well as the development of the Danish spoken language community is shortly accounted for. The article investigates the use of rigsdansk in JO as well as what it refers to; it proposes a more consistent use of rigsdansk as a linguistic norm against which the traditional Jutlandic dialects are evaluated. More clarity in both meta-text and descriptive language will enable users to get the most out of JO at any given time.