excuse-me, noun

Forms:
Also ’scuse-me, scuse-me.
Plurals:
excuse-mes, ooscuse-me, bo-excuse-me.
Origin:
IsiXhosa, SothoShow more See quotation 1982. The plural forms ooscuse-me and bo-excuse-me are formed by the addition of the isiXhosa plural prefix oo- and the Sotho plural prefix bo- (see bo-), respectively.
derogatory, slang
In the townships, a term of contempt for an educated person of the middle class. Also attributive. Cf. situation.
1963 Wilson & Mafeje Langa 15The urbanized whose homes are in town...‘Decent people’, some of whom form an educated middle class — the ooscuse-me — and others the respectable lower class.
1963 Wilson & Mafeje Langa 26The educated people are referred to by others, somewhat derogatorily, as ooscuse-me, and accused of being aloof and conceited...Ooscuse-me include those in professional jobs — teachers, lawyers, doctors, ministers of religion, nurses, secretaries — as well as university students and others.
1977 J. Sikakane Window on Soweto 9The ghetto dwellers generally refer to Dube Township as..the place of ‘excuse me’s’ because the African intelligentsia residing there prefer speaking English.
1979 S. Sillie InformantOoscuse-me used to include professional men..teachers, clerks, lawyers, nurses etc. but is no longer like that because some people with a low standard of education who live decent lives, dress respectably and are gentle and polite in their manner are also called scuse-me.
1979 Daily Dispatch 12 Oct. (Indaba) 7Those women who thought I was a ’scuse-me can now freely offer me their wine — I shall taste it.
1980 S. Sepamla in M. Mutloatse Forced Landing 83In the backyards ‘ugologo’, the drinking of kaffir-beer...From the front door the excuse-me-people play music called jazz...That was Sophiatown.
1982 M. Mzamane Children of Soweto 35I don’t know why he should venerate teachers so much. Just because they wear ties and speak English...I’ve no time at all for these excuse-me’s.
1982 M. Mzamane Children of Soweto 153They were forever trying to situate themselves outside everyone else’s social orbit; other people called them Bo-Excuse-me because they were always putting on dainty manners.
In the townships, a term of contempt for an educated person of the middle class. Also attributive.
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19631982

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IsiXhosa
Sesotho and Sesotho sa Leboa

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derogatory or offensive
slang
ewwatrewwa, nounn.exit permit, noun phrasen. phr.
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