English Explanatory Dictionary

kaffir

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. In Islamic contexts, a non-Muslim.
  2. A member of the Nguni people of southern Africa, especially a Xhosa.
  3. A black person.
  4. A language spoken by the Nguni peoples of southern Africa, especially Xhosa.
  5. South African mining shares
  6. Ellipsis of kaffir corn.
noun
  1. Alternative letter-case form of kaffir.

Pronunciation

/ˈkæfə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-kaffir.wav /ˈkæfɚ/

Word forms

kaffir kaffirs Caffer caffre kaffer Kaffre kafir kaphar kaphir kafari coffery coffree coffry

Etymology

Ultimately from Arabic كَفَّار (kaffār, “infidel”) or كَافِر (kāfir, “unbeliever”), both from كَفَرَ (kafara, “to cover, to hide”); in some (especially early) uses, via Spanish cafre, Dutch kaffer or other European languages. Doublet of kafir.

Related words

kafir nigger

Derived words

kaffir beer kaffir bread kaffir cabbage Kaffir Circus kaffir corn kaffir doctor kaffir dog kaffir fink kaffirgram kaffir honeysuckle kaffir lily kaffir lime kaffir melon Kaffir Wars Kaffraria Mine Kaffir
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