Karel Schoeman - This Life

BASTER: person of mixed race; half-breed (sometimes derogatory)

BASTERSFONTEIN: a place name, fountain where the Basters live

“BLINK JAKOB”: Shiny (Sleek) Jakob

BOERS: inhabitants of the Transvaal and the Free State in the time of the Anglo-Boer War

BOTTERBLOM: African daisy, Gazania krebsiana

BRANDSOLDER: fireproof loft

BROEDERBOND: fraternal society for Afrikaner men

BOEGOE: buchu, Agathosma species

BYWONER: share-cropper, person with no land of his own, farming on the land of others

DASSIE: rock-rabbit, Cape hyrax

DOMINEE: reverend, clergyman, also used as title

DUIWELSDREK: asafetida, a resinous plant gum with an ammoniac smell used for medicinal purposes

GEELBOS: yellow bush (lit.); Leucadendron salignum

GOUSBLOM: marigold; Namaqualand daisy; Arctotis species

HARPUISBOS: resin bush, Euryops species

HARTBEESHUISIE: mud-and-daub house, also known as wattle-and-daub hut

KAREE: Karoo tree, or bastard willow; Rhus lancea

KAROSS: blanket or mantle made of skins with the hair left on

KATSTERT: cat’s tail, Bulbinella species

KIST: box, chest

KLIPSPRINGERTJIE: small antelope, African chamois

KNEG (pl. KNEGTE): farm labourer with slightly higher status; overseer, foreman

KOLONIE: the Cape Colony

KRAAITULP: Homeria species

MEESTER: Master (title given to schoolmaster)

NAGMAAL: Holy Communion

PADKOS: provisions for a journey

PERDEUINTJIE: Babiana curviscapa

PLAKKIE: Cotyledon orbiculata

REEBOK: a small South African antelope with sharp horns

RENOSTERBOS: rhinoceros-bush, Elytropappus rhinocerotis

RIEMPIE: leather thong (used for making riempie-seat chairs)

SETIES: dance, also known as schottische, or Scottish polka

SJAMBOK: short, heavy whip, originally of rhinoceros-hide

SLAMAAIERMEID: Malay woman (derogatory)

SPEKBOS: shrub of the genus Zygophyllum

STUIPDRUPPELS: anticonvulsive drops

TESSIE: container with handles for hot colas, placed inside a foot-stove

TREK: long, arduous journey, especially on foot; can also refer to travelling by ox-wagon

TREKBOER, TREKKER: migrant farmer

VELDKOS: veld foods, edible wild plants and fruit

VOORHUIS: front room, living-room, parlour

WILDE ANYS: wild aniseed, Pharnaceum lanatum