bang, adjective

Forms:
Also baang.
Origin:
Dutch.
colloquial
Scared, afraid. See also bangbroek.
1856 R.J. Mullins Diary. 18 Dec.Rode on and found the Kei very full...When we others..were safely through, we looked back and saw Mr Waters on his charger looking very ‘bang.’
1899 B. Mitford Weird of Deadly Hollow 69Baang, are you? And what the devil are you baang of?
1963 L.F. Freed Crime in S. Afr. 105When he (sc. a ducktail) says that he is ‘bang the ore will take a jerry’, he intends to imply that he is afraid the police may find out.
1969 A. Fugard Boesman & Lena 38When the robot said go there at Berry’s corner I was nearly bang in my broek.
1970 D. Pincus Informant, Bloemfontein, Free StateI was bang to get up in the middle of the night to close the window.
1970 C.S. Hendry Informant, Somerset West, Western CapeI’m so bang I’m going to dop [fail].
1977 F.G. Butler Karoo Morning 94‘Tell me, Knaggs, are you afraid of Butler?’ ‘Of course not.’...‘Knaggs is “bang” of Butler!’ ‘I’m not.’
1987 Fair Lady 18 Feb. 92‘Don’t be a fool,’ shivering in the shallows..‘there are currents and things.’ ‘I’m too bang anyhow,’ I said, my courage deserting me at armpit level.
1991 G. De Beer Informant, Port Nolloth, Northern CapeShe’s so bang of heights.
Scared, afraid.
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18561991