bongolo, noun

Forms:
Also bongol, bongola.
Origin:
IsiXhosa, isiZuluShow more IsiXhosa and isiZulu imbongolo mule, donkey.
A mule.
1911 Queenstown Weekly Review 25 Nov. (Pettman)[He] has been appointed one of the official Judges of the South African Judges Association, his speciality being mules, and none knows a bongolo.
1918 C. Garstin Sunshine Settlers 114‘Picanin’, said Umsuaz, who is a linguist, and has the English. ‘Old missus bongola go way in bush; by’m-by come back along picanin bongola’.
1947 C.R. Prance Antic Mem. 100The Rustenburg O.C. Transport was ordered to assemble all his bongolas in a kraal where each in turn was to be thrown, hobbled, gagged, saddled, and tried-out for remount duty by hard-case bronco-busters.
1965 P. Baragwanath Brave Remain 126The bongols are yours whenever you require them. I will..assist you in dividing the bag of mealie-meal into two loads.
A mule.
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19111965