Tukkie, noun

/ˈtʌki/
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, Tuk (see Tuks) + -ie.
colloquial
1. A student or alumnus of the University of Pretoria. Also attributive, from or of this university.
1970 H.M. Musmeci Informant, Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha), Eastern CapeTukkie. Students’ expression for a student — past or present — from Pretoria University.
1973 Star 8 June 13Stefan (a former Tukkie who started working as an engineer recently).
1974 Sunday Times 1 Sept. 15Tukkie prof’s topsy-turvey world.
1978 Sunday Times 24 Sept. 16Pik is a Tukkie.
1979 E. Prov. Herald 10 Mar. 12Two bright new stars burst onto the South African golfing scene at Humewood yesterday. The one is an 18-year-old Johannesburg schoolboy...The other a young Tukkie from Pretoria, Louis Norval.
1987 S. Afr. Panorama May 43In spite of his 78 years, the former Tukkie (student of the University of Pretoria) still has plenty of go.
1990 Sunday Times 4 Mar. 27They kept out wave after wave of Tukkie jerseys for 28 minutes in the second half.
2. In the plural, sometimes used with singular construction. The University of Pretoria; (the members of) its sports teams, particularly its rugby team. Also attributive. See also Tuks.
1971 Rand Daily Mail 24 May 16On Saturday Tukkies illustrated that they might be one of the leading club teams in South Africa as they hammered Pretoria, the Northern Transvaal champions, 30–3.
1973 Star 14 June 10Tukkies Honour Medical Pioneers...Pretoria University is to honour two founders of its medical faculty.
1973 Weekend Argus 16 June 8The North-South confrontation became even more marked at Coetzenburg last Saturday when Tukkies were drubbed 14–3 by Maties.
1977 H.D.K. Van der Merwe in Hansard 20 June 10701Of course, we often have our differences. For example, he thinks the Maties are a better team than the Tukkies.
1984 Pretoria News 1 Feb. 1Tukkies Rag celebrations are going to be a sober affair this year — and that’s official.
1992 Cape Times 20 May 9Stellenbosch has its oaks, Tukkies has its jacarandas.
A student or alumnus of the University of Pretoria. Also attributive, from or of this university.
In the plural, sometimes used with singular construction.The University of Pretoria; (the members of) its sports teams, particularly its rugby team. Also attributive.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

19701992

Browse Related Words

By Category

Education
Sport and Leisure

By Origin

Afrikaans

By Usage

colloquial
tuishuis, nounn.Tuks, nounn.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English