bitter-einder, noun

/ˌbətərˈeɪndə(r)/
Origin:
Afrikaans, South African English, U.S. English, South African DutchShow more Afrikaans, formed on South African English (or the original U.S. English) bitter-ender die-hard. It is probable that bitter-ender entered South African English towards the end of the Anglo-Boer War, at approximately the same time as it was taken into South African Dutch as bitter-einder. The comparatively recent borrowing of bitter-einder into South African English is perhaps an attempt at ‘correctness’, based on the misconception that bitter-ender was derived from Afrikaans.
1. In historical contexts. bitter-ender. Also attributive.
1946 E. Rosenthal General De Wet 89It was noticeable that more and more began to side against the ‘Bitter-Einders’, as they were called.
1960 L.M. Thompson Unification of S. Afr. 1902–10 17The events of the war had left a bitter legacy of divisions within Afrikanerdom — between Transvaalers, Free Staters, and the Cape Colonials, and between bittereinders (bitter enders) who had fought to the end, hensoppers (hands-uppers) who had passively accepted British rule, and National Scouts who had actively assisted the British forces.
1977 T.R.H. Davenport S. Afr.: Mod. Hist. 156Conciliation was necessary to heal the rifts within Afrikanerdom between the bittereinder and the National Scout.
1980 Cape Times 29 Mar. 8History — and the future — belonged to the hollow-eyed men of the veld, the bitter-einders who against unbelievable personal and military odds carried on the fight to the bitter end.
1990 D. Van Heerden in Sunday Times 10 June 11The son of one of the bittereinder Boer leaders who refused to sign the Vereeniging Peace Treaty in 1902, Dr Naudé was named after General Christiaan Frederick Beyers.
2. Figurative, and transferred sense. One who holds out to the end; a die-hard.
1970 M. Bennett Informant, KrugersdorpBittereinders. People who hang about after the party is over.
1975 Sunday Times 12 Oct. 16This acceptance comes from many countries (communist regimes and a few bitter-einders excepted).
1986 Style Sept. 6The evening (or morning) ended with a few chosen bittereinders moving off to Melvyn Minnaar’s house for a Sunday morning champagne breakfast.
1989 H.P. Toffoli in Style Feb. 40It’s this healthy tradition of voluble Boere diehards — bittereinders — who speak their minds no matter what the cost, that the Vrye Weekblad in its stated editorial policy clearly sees itself as part of.
1990 E. Prov. Herald 9 Feb. 5It’s with the bittereinders that you will have to reckon if you want to give away the freedom of the Afrikaner. This nation will not be led to the abattoir.
1990 Sunday Times 7 Oct. 7Armed police dismantled the last homes and loaded the furniture and livestock of black bittereinders.
1990 Sunday Times 14 Oct. 25All that is left is for the bitter-einders to drink the pub dry after its reopening.
bitter-ender. Also attributive.
One who holds out to the end; a die-hard.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

19461990

Browse Related Words

By Category

Colonial
South African War

By Origin

Afrikaans

By Usage

historical
figurative or allusive
bitter bush, noun phrasen. phr.bitter-ender, nounn.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English