broer, noun
/bruː(r)/
- Origin:
- Afrikaans, DutchShow more Afrikaans, from Dutch broeder brother.
1. colloquial. An informal or familiar term of address, often in the phrase my broer. Also in dimunitive form broertjie /ˈbruːrki/ [see -ie]. Cf. bra sense 2 b.
1912 F. Bancroft Veldt Dwellers 110‘Look at my old shoes, broertjie,’ she stretched out a foot clad in a well-worn pair of veldtschoens.
2. obsolete. Used as a title before a man’s first name.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 91Broer,..This word is frequently employed in folk-lore tales and ordinary conversation as Uncle Remus — Mr. Chandler Harris’ friend — uses the word ‘Brer’. Instead of Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit, etc., we have Broer Jakhals, Broer Wolf, etc.
3. A friend or compatriot. Also figurative.
1938 F.C. Slater Trek 59Twelve volleys from the belching roer, The trekker’s trusted friend and broer, Had rattled harshly.
1981 B. Mfenyana in M. Mutloatse Reconstruction 299Now the white maponisa took a while to adjust to Mdantsane, coined by their own broers in the first place.
4. Broederbonder. Also used as a title.
1950 H. Gibbs Twilight in S. Afr. 209The Broers are said to have realized that in future they would have to seek stronger control over the machinery of government.
1994 Noseweek No.10, 10Broer D— they kept on as chief executive.
5. colloquial. A brother. Cf. boet sense 3 a, broeder sense 1.
1977 C. Hope in S. Gray Theatre Two (1981) 40Bring your broer’s friend here and let’s check his knife then.
1992 N. Mbatha in Pace Aug. 53There were two warders, brothers, who proved particularly adverse toward him. ‘The Kleynhans broers had their knives out for me,’ he recalls.
6. slang. main man.
1987 L. Beake Strollers 38It was them what started it — the Spider Men. Wanted us to be lighties, you know, join the gang...They kept after us. My uncle,..he’s one of the Broers, jy weet, high up, jy weet. He says it’s family, man.
‘Brother’.
An informal or familiar term of address, often in the phrase my broer. Also in dimunitive form broertjie /ˈbruːrki/ [see -ie].
Used as a title before a man’s first name.
A friend or compatriot. Also figurative.
Broederbonder. Also used as a title.
A brother.
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