agtertang, noun

/ˈaxtə(r)taŋ/
Forms:
Formerly also achtertang, achtertong.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, agter rear + tang tongs.
obs. except in historical contexts, Wagon-making
A forked wooden link coupling the rear axle structure (or agterstel) of a wagon to the central beam or long-wagon; tang. Cf. voortang.
[1899 G. Lacy Pictures of Trav., Sport & Adventure 6The ‘trek-touw’ (hide-rope to which the yokes are fastened) of the other wagon was made fast to the ‘after-tongue,’ and all our Kafir servants..dragged at it to slow the wagon down.]
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 21Achtertong,..A wooden fork that passes up from the hind axle to the long-wagon, fastening them together.
1919 Dunell, Ebden & Co.’s Price List Aug. 35Achter tongs 5/0 rough, 7/0 dressed.
1958 A. Jackson Trader on Veld 37Coupled with the vehicle-building industry was the manufacturing of coach and wagon felloes, yokes, spokes, disselbooms, achter en voortang..and other parts.
1967 E. Rosenthal Encycl. of Sn Afr. 12Agtertang, Portion of a wagon holding the back axle to the ‘long wagon’.
1977 F.G. Butler Karoo Morning 89The wheels were exactly like those of a real big wagon, so was the undercarriage, the ‘voortang’ and the ‘agtertang’ — everything authentic from the brake to the disselboom.
A forked wooden link coupling the rear axle structure (or agterstel) of a wagon to the central beam or long-wagon; tang.
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18991977

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obsolete or obsolescent
agterstel, nounn.Agterveld, nounn.
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