Bayete, interjection and & noun
/baˈjeːte/
- Forms:
-
α. Show more Biatt, Byat, Byate, Byatt, Byatu;
β. Show more Baaite, Bayet, Bayete, Beyete;
γ. Bayede.
- Origin:
- IsiZuluShow more From isiZulu bayede, dialectal form of balethe ‘bring them (sc. the enemy)’.
A. interjection
a. ‘Hail’, the Zulu royal salute; also extended as an honour to prominent persons or high officials. Also attributive.
α.
1835 A. Smith Diary (1940) II. 62After waiting about ten minutes we were apprised by the exclamations ‘Byat! Byat!’ that he (i.e. Mazilikatze) was approaching from an inner enclosure.
1893 J.F. Ingram Story of Gold Concession 40A deep but subdued shout of ‘Byatu!’ (‘Our King’) rose from the warriors.
β.
1837 F. Owen Diary (1926) 72These men praise their king for his bounty, shaking their fingers in the air, making hizzing noises with their teeth and shouting out Bayet ‘Our Father.’
1987 L. Dellatola in S. Afr. Panorama May 23No Zulu would ever stand upright before him, or fail to hail him at all times with the royal praise-greeting of ‘bayete’.
γ.
1978 A. Elliott Sons of Zulu 36As they died, the victims shouted the royal salute of ‘Bayede!’ to their ‘father, Chief Shaka.’
b. In modern contexts, applied rather more loosely, indicating approval or support.
β.
1986 Sunday Star 28 Sept. 18Bayete! It’s ‘Shaka’ the Great, the right mix to make an international hit.
1990 Sunday Tribune 14 Jan. (Today) 7South African music is finally starting to come into its own. Bayete Mango Groove!
γ.
1983 T.S. Masilela in Drum June 23Bayede...!! you two brothers of the late conqueror. I salute your progressive opinion.
B. noun The Zulu royal salute; an utterance of this salute. Also attributive.
β.
1972 Sunday Times 2 Apr. (Mag. Sect.) 7The assembled company paid her the high Zulu honour of the royal Bayete salute.
‘Hail’, the Zulu royal salute; also extended as an honour to prominent persons or high officials. Also attributive.
In modern contexts, applied rather more loosely, indicating approval or support.
The Zulu royal salute; an utterance of this salute. Also attributive.
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