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Glossary of Boer War terms 10 years 11 months ago #17275

  • djb
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I came across this useful list of Boer War terms in South Africa and the Boer-British War, Volume I, by J. Castell Hopkins and Murat Halstead

Aarde - Earth, ground
Afgang - Slope
Baas - Master
Beek - Brook
Berg - Mountain (the plural is formed by adding en)
Boer - Farmer
Boom - Tree
Boschveldt - An open plain covered with bush
Broek - Marsh, pool
Buitenlander - Foreigner
Burg - A town
Burgher - A citizen
Commandeer - To levy troops
Commando - A body of armed men
Daal - A valley
Dorp - A village
Drift - A ford
Dusselboom - Pole of an ox wagon
Fontein - A spring or fountain
Gebied - District
Hout - Wood, timber
Inspan - To harness or tether horses or cattle
Jonkher - Gentleman of the Volks Raad
Karroo - A geographical term for a certain district. In Hottentot, a "dry place"
Kerel - A chap, or fellow
Klei - Clay
Kloof - A valley or ravine
Kop or Kopje - A hill or small mountain
Kraal - A place of meeting, headquarters
Kruger - The family name of present president of South African Republic
Krantz - A precipice
Laager - A fortified camp, but often applied to any camp, fortified or not
Landdrost - Local governor
Loop - Course, channel
Modder - Mud
Mooi - Pretty
Nachtmal - Lord's Supper
Nieuwe - New
Oom - Uncle
Pan - Bed of a dried-up salt marsh
Poort - A passage between mountains
Raad - Senate
Raadsher - Senator
Raadhuis - Senate hall
Raadzael - Parliament house
Rand - Edge, margin
Rooinek - Term of contempt applied to British by Boers
Ruggens - A barren, hilly country
Schantze - A heap of stones used to protect a marksman against opposing rifle fire
Slim - Cunning, crafty
Sluit - A ditch
Spruit - Creek
Staat - State
Stad - A town or city
Transvaal - Across the valley
Trek - A journey
Trekken - To travel, or pull away from
Uit - Outside
Uitspan - To unharness, to stop
Uitlander - An outsider or newcomer
Vaal - Valley
Veldt - A prairie, or treeless plain
Veldtheer - The general in command
Vley - A prairie-like meadow
Volks Raad - House of commons or representatives
Voortrekkers - Pioneers
Vrow - Housewife
Witwaterstrand - The edge of the White Water
Zuid - South
Dr David Biggins
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Glossary of Boer War terms 10 years 11 months ago #17282

  • Brett Hendey
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I have been out to photograph a local feature that illustrates two of the words in the glossary - the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, which has both cliffs and valleys to justify its name. I live in Krantzkloof Park, which houses the decrepit residents of the town of Kloof.

Brett


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Glossary of Boer War terms 10 years 11 months ago #17283

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That's a great idea Brett. Than you for the picture.

I can't however agree with part of your last sentence. You are a pillar of our community.

Best wishes
David
Dr David Biggins

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Glossary of Boer War terms 10 years 11 months ago #17292

  • pjac49
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David

Thanks for this glossary, it's very useful.Interesting that 'kloof' has the same meaning as the word 'clough' in Lancashire and Cheshire, which is from Old English, so far as I know.

Brett, great illustration!

Patrick

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Glossary of Boer War terms 10 years 11 months ago #17293

  • Frank Kelley
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Brett,
Given the weather here, I wish that I were aloof in Kloof!
Bet you are not as damp and cold as I am today.
Frank

Brett Hendey wrote: I have been out to photograph a local feature that illustrates two of the words in the glossary - the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, which has both cliffs and valleys to justify its name. I live in Krantzkloof Park, which houses the decrepit residents of the town of Kloof.

Brett


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Glossary of Boer War terms 10 years 11 months ago #17296

  • djb
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Those houses do look to be close to the edge but I imagine they are set back a little?

I was reading that Kloof is cognate with the Middle Dutch clove which itself is linked to the word cleave. Cleave makes sense given Brett's picture.
Dr David Biggins

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