fontein, noun
/fɔnˈteɪn/
- Forms:
- Also fonteyn.
- Plurals:
- fonteins, fonteine.
- Origin:
- Dutch
‖1.
a. fountain. Also attributive.
[1786 G. Forster tr. of A. Sparrman’s Voy. to Cape of G.H. I. 321In a marshy place..a place full of land-springs, (fontein grond) he had observed pretty distinct vestiges of elephants.]
1976 R. Ross Adam Kok’s Griquas 43Where possible, the fonteins were led out to allow cultivation, mainly of wheat.
b. An element in place names, signifying the (former) presence of a natural spring, e.g. Bloemfontein, Fonteintjiesberg, Garsfontein, Matjiesfontein.
[1822 W.J. Burchell Trav. I. 259In dry countries, any circumstance relating to water, is of sufficient importance to distinguish that place. Thus it is that the Dutch word Fontein is made such liberal use of in every part of the Colony: the Hottentot word Kamma (water), is not less frequently found in the composition of the aboriginal names.]
1989 T. Botha in Style June 112On my map I check the route for tomorrow...Zevenfontein, at least two dozen other fonteins, Geluk and Paradys.
2. combination
fonteinbos/-bɔs/ [Afrikaans bos bush], either of two shrubby aromatic plants, Psoralea aphylla or P. pinatta, usually found growing near running water or springs.
1963 S. Cloete Rags of Glory 522They splashed through a little river of brown water edged with lilies, the air sweet with the honey scent of fonteinbos.
1966 C.A. Smith Common Names 217Fonteinbos, Psoralea aphylla and P. pinnata...Shrubs up to 12 ft high; leaves aromatic; flowers blue. Almost invariably found growing in the vicinity of running water and springheads.
fountain. Also attributive.
An element in place names, signifying the (former) presence of a natural spring, e.g. Bloemfontein, Fonteintjiesberg, Garsfontein, Matjiesfontein.
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