chommie, noun

/ˈtʃɔmi/
Forms:
Also tjommie.
Origin:
Afrikaans, EnglishShow more Englished form of Afrikaans tjommie adaptation of English chummy friend.
slang
‘Pal’, ‘mate’; also used as a form of address.
1946 Cape Times in E. Partridge Dict. of Underworld (1950) 28Cronies (variously known as chommies, pallie-blues, or beaus).
[1959 L. Longmore Dispossessed 190The leader of a tsotsi gang is known as the ‘big shot’,..and the rank and file are variously known as ‘the brigade’, ‘men’, ‘tjommies’, ‘morongas’, ‘umajikas’.]
1970 S.E. Nathan Informant, Cape Town, Western CapeTjommies. Pals.
1974 J. Matthews Park (1983) 22We get more dagga at de Alabama. De burgie who puss issa ou chommie. We do six months inna Pollsmoor.
1977 C. Hope in S. Gray Theatre Two (1981) 40Jimmie:...We can’t get that sort of knife here in Pretoria, man, where the blade comes out the front. Howellsie (knowingly): My broer’s chommie’s got one.
1978 S. Roberts in New Classic No.5, 24I won’t stick my neck out for nothing..maybe for a tjommie but not for any idea.
1979 Sunday Times 26 Aug. 18What title does he confer on himself...‘It depends on the girl. If she’s literate, it’s “poet”. Otherwise it’s “tjommie” or “china”’.
1981 M. Mutloatse in Staffrider Vol.3 No.4, 40Well, if this bugger gets up he’s going to moer us again; or his chommies will get here and bliksem us to pieces.
1988 A. Sher Middlepost 84Hey, don’t look so sad, mad and bad, chommie. You’re going to get your heart’s desire.
1990 J. Rosenthal Wake Up Singing 18Each was there with all his chommies from school in Soweto.
‘Pal’, ‘mate’; also used as a form of address.
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chokka, nounn.chorb, nounn.
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