‖amper-baas, noun

/ˈampə(r)ˌbɑːs/
Plurals:
amper-base/ˈampə(r)ˌbɑːsə/.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, amper (see amper) + baas (see baas sense 2 and 3).
colloquial
‘Almost-boss’, an ironic name for someone who (though not White) is perceived to behave like a stereotypical White person, or to aspire to power of some kind. Also in dimunitive form amper-baasie [see -ie]. See also baas.
1952 Drum Apr. 7 (by-line)‘Amperbaas’.
1982 M. Mzamane Children of Soweto 22Monty was very light-complexioned. ‘Amper Baasie’ or ‘Rooi Nek’ we sometimes called him. When Pakade was angry with him..he always likened him to a Boer.
1982 Voice 30 May 4Is Lofty A— asleep like Rip Van Winkle or is he so taken up with the idea of being amper-baas that he overlooks all these facts of life in our current South Africa?
1984 A. Dangor in Staffrider Vol.6 No.1, 17Appointed Assistants Mrs Muriel Meraai Mr Reginald Baatjies. ‘What’s he saying now?’ ‘He’s the boss, Muriel and Reggie are the amper-base.’
‘Almost-boss’, an ironic name for someone who (though not White) is perceived to behave like a stereotypical White person, or to aspire to power of some kind. Also in dimunitive form amper-baasie [see -ie].
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19521984
amper, adverbadv.anaboom, nounn.
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