Book of Life, noun phrase

Origin:
Perhaps a wry transferred use of the biblical book of life the record of the names of those inheriting eternal life.
A comprehensive personal identity document, including marriage-, driving-, and firearm-licences. Cf. ID. Also attributive.
Note:
This document was introduced in 1972; initially for White people only (cf. pass sense 3), it was in general use from 1986.
1971 Sunday Times 14 Nov. 5The six foolscap-page form which people in South Africa will have to complete for the ‘Book of Life’ — the Government’s new super-identity card — will pry deeply into personal affairs.
1972 E. Prov. Herald 2 Feb. 5Book of Life forms now available. The new system of population registration and identification was launched yesterday.
1977 Het Suid-Western 2 Feb. (back page)Only driver’s licences that are in the book of life identity document will be recognised as valid by this time next year.
1983 Rand Daily Mail 10 Nov. 5He was aware a Book of Life was required to cast a referendum vote, but he was against being issued a Book of Life because it classified him according to race.
1986 Drum Aug. 55The euphoria about the death of the old dompas has waned and in its wake comes the new Book of Life — complete with fingerprints maybe.
1990 J.G. Davis Land God Made in Anger 235All South Africans..have to carry the so-called Book-of-Life. An identification document. It contains all the bearer’s details, his date and place of birth, his address, his marriage, everything of an official nature that he’s done in his life.
A comprehensive personal identity document, including marriage-, driving-, and firearm-licences.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

19711990

Browse Related Words

By Category

Government and Administration
book, verb transitivev.boom, nounn.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English