basics, noun

Origin:
From basic training.
colloquial
The initial period of military training undergone by all national servicemen in the South African defence force.
1979 Darling 7 Feb. 32During your basics you don’t get your head down till about 10 pm, and stand-to is at four in the morning.
1981 Fair Lady 8 Apr. 7‘Basics’ is tough, and your son will never be able to tell you what it’s really like..just as later on you will hear very little about what it’s like ‘somewhere on the Border’.
1986 J. Whyle in S. Gray Market Plays 170After two months I found myself getting fit and confident. Then towards the end of basics something happened.
1991 R. Fragoso Informant, Pretoria, GautengRoofie:..Somebody who has just started his army service, i.e. is doing basics. Army colloquialism.
The initial period of military training undergone by all national servicemen in the South African defence force.
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colloquial
basela, verbv.basket, nounn.
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