‖dag, interjection

/dax/
Forms:
Also daag.
Origin:
Afrikaans, South African DutchShow more Afrikaans, earlier South African Dutch, elliptical form of goeie dag, formerly goeden dag (see goeden dag).
‘Good day’; ‘good-bye’; goeden dag.
Note:
Usually in contexts reporting speech which is South African Dutch or Afrikaans.
1822 W.J. Burchell Trav. I. 113The Hottentots..in a good-natured, respectful manner, accosted each of us with ‘Dag, Mynheer!’ meaning, ‘Good day, Sir!’
1824 W.J. Burchell Trav. II. 97Bidding me farewell in the colonial manner, by repeating the word dag, they hasted away to their Kraal.
1837 J.E. Alexander Narr. of Voy. II. 318We had often three generations with us. First; the grandfather..jogging silently on, Dutch-like, after a gruff ‘daag, mynheer’.
1868 W.R. Thomson Poems, Essays & Sketches 167You go up without introduction, hold out your hand, and say ‘Dag!’ She holds out her hand, and says ‘Dag!’
1900 B. Mitford Aletta 47‘Daag, Oom Sarel!’ called out the two in the buggy. But the old man met this amenity with a torrent of abuse.
1912 F. Bancroft Veldt Dwellers 38The young boer put forth a limp hand, and with a single word ‘dag’ went the round of the company.
1920 S. Black Dorp 229At length Mijnheer wiped his mouth, got up and said ‘dag’...And he went carefully down the steps.
1937 H. Sauer Ex Afr. 19On entering he walked slowly round the room, shaking hands with everyone and uttering the one word Daag, which means ‘Good day’.
1975 W. Steenkamp Land of Thirst King 22‘Hello, Oupa!’ I shout, and he grins and says..‘Dag, jong,’ and I know that I am home.
1987 L. Beake Strollers 91He nodded in an impertinent way towards Abraham. ‘Dag, Spider Man.’ ‘Mr Xhashan, to you,’ Abraham said with dignity.
1990 D. Beckett in Frontline Mar.–Apr. 20‘Dag,’ I say. ‘Dag,’ he nods. They wheel-spin off.
‘Good day’; ‘good-bye’; goeden dag.
Derivatives:
Hence dag  transitive verb  nonce, to offer (a greeting of ‘dag’).
1920 R. Juta Tavern 218Vague shadowy humanity..‘Daaged’ a late day greeting to them from out of the shadow.
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18221990

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dag, v.

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greetings
rare or nonce
Dad’s Army, noun phrasen. phr.daga, nounn.
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