Vierkleur, noun

Forms:
Occasionally with small initial.
Plurals:
Vierkleurs, occasionally Vierkleure /ˈfiːrkliœrə/.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, vier four + kleur colour.
The flag of the old Transvaal (or South African) Republic, 1857–77 and 1881–1902, having three horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue, and a vertical stripe of green on the left-hand side; rare, the flag of the Orange Free State Republic (see Weekend Post quotation 1993). Also attributive.
1899 S.T. Plaatje Boer War Diary (1973) 25The missionary..had the ‘Vierkleur’ waving over his dwellinghouse.
1900 B. Mitford Aletta 40When I return it will be with our conquering forces to help plant the ‘Vierkleur’ over our new Republic.
1915 D. Fairbridge Torch Bearer 130We shall live under the Vierkleur, Mynheer, the good old flag of the Transvaal Republic, which will float all over South Africa some day, if all goes well.
1924 L. Cohen Reminisc. of Jhb. 119He was killed, I believe, in the last Boer War, fighting for the Vierkleur.
1929 D. Reitz Commando 23On the left of the track stood a large marquee over which floated the vierkleur flag of the Transvaal, indicating General Joubert’s headquarters.
1936 Cambridge Hist. of Brit. Empire VIII. 509The hope of young Afrikanderism to see the Vierkleur ‘waving from Table Bay to the Zambesi’ was publicly expressed.
1937 H. Klein Stage Coach Dust 203As each draft marched out of camp, amidst much waving of the Vierkleur (the old Transvaal flag), their comrades cheered them on with patriotic and other songs.
1947 H.C. Bosman Mafeking Rd (1969) 52We returned to our farms, relieved that the war was over, but with heavy hearts at the thought..that over the Transvaal the Vierkleur would not wave again.
1958 A. Jackson Trader on Veld 68Rinderpest..raced down from somewhere near the Equator,..not caring whether the oxen that died lived under the Union or the Vierkleur.
1962 Natal Mercury 12 JuneThe South African flag consisted of the Transvaal Vierkleur, the Orange Free State flag and the Union Jack.
1982 E. Prov. Herald 1 June 4Mr Marais was led into the meeting under the historic Wonderboom by a column of youths waving Vierkleurs.
1988 K. De Boer in Frontline Apr. 26Lots of Vierkleure and AWB flags waved about in fervour.
1993 Sunday Times 25 Apr. 21The AWB’s single-storey headquarters, bedecked with Transvaal Vierkleurs and guarded by khaki-clad guards bristling with beards and guns.
1993 Weekend Post 20 Nov. 13 (letter)None of the flags from which our present national flag is derived — the Dutch, the two Vierkleurs or the Union Jack — can be said to represent the majority of South Africans.
The flag of the old Transvaal (or South African) Republic, 1857–77 and 1881–1902, having three horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue, and a vertical stripe of green on the left-hand side; rare, the flag of the Orange Free State Republic (see Weekend Post quotation 1993). Also attributive.
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18991993