guarri, gwarrie, noun

/ˈɡwari/
Forms:
ghwarrie, guárriShow more Also ghwarrie, guárri, guarrie, guarry, guerri, guerrie, gwarri, gwary, kwarrie, quarri.
Origin:
Khoikhoi gwarri.
a. In full guarriboom/-bʊəm/ [Afrikaans, boom tree], guarri bosch obs. [Dutch, bosch bush], guarri bush, guarri tree, guarriwood: Any of several trees or shrubs of the genus Euclea of the Ebenaceae, especially E. undulata. Also attributive. Occasionally with distinguishing epithet, as blue guarri (E. crispa), sea guarri (E. racemosa), etc.
1790 W. Paterson Narr. of Four Journeys 43The ground is covered with shrubs about four feet high, called by the natives Guerrie, a species of Royena.
1795 C.R. Hopson tr. of C.P. Thunberg’s Trav. I. 202The berries of the Guarri bush (Euclea undulata) had a sweet taste, and were eaten by the Hottentots. Bruised and fermented, they yield a vinegar, like that made from Pontac.
1801 J. Barrow Trav. I. 149The guerrie bosch, apparently a species of rhus.
1824 W.J. Burchell Trav. II. 588Different species of Euclea are..called Guárri by the Hottentots.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 202Guarri tea, This is made by the Hottentots from the leaves of Euclea lanceolata.
1939 tr. of E.N. Marais’s My Friends the Baboons 42Near the sleeping-place there was, in a corner of the rocks, a large gwarrie-bush.
1961 Palmer & Pitman Trees of S. Afr. 136Gwarri trees of one kind or another are found in all the drier parts of the country, and often in the regions of higher rainfall as well.
1971 L.G. Green Taste of S.-Easter 161There was..a rare ghwarrie bush honey, pale and delicate.
1977 E. Prov. Herald 2 Mar. 1Mutton chops, sosaties and a gwarrie wood fire are the basic ingredients for a braaivleis competition.
1980 S. Afr. Digest 17 Oct. 16Blue Gwarri, also known as Bush Gwarri, Gwarri, and umNqandane (Euclea crispa) The most widespread of the Hottentot-named Gwarrie specie[s]...The leaves, browsed by rhino, are also used medicinally by Blacks.
1987 T.F.J. Van Rensburg Intro. to Fynbos 20Low bushes such as candlewood...sea guarri (Euclea racemosa), glossy currant..and coastal saffron..often occur in patches.
1993 F. Van Rensburg in Getaway Nov. 93On the way we encountered blue guarri Euclea crispa.
b. In full guarribessie/-ˌbesi/, formerly also guarribesjie: [Afrikaans, bessie (fr. Dutch besje) berry] the succulent, edible fruit of any of several species of guarri.
1843 J.C. Chase Cape of G.H. 152The wild fruits, indigenous to the country, are also incredibly numerous..among these are wild grape (Vitis Capensis),..wild pomegranate (Hamiltonia Capensis), quarri (Euclea undulata).
1866 Lindley & Moore Treasury of Botanys.v. Euclea, The fruit is globular, fleshy, and juicy, sometimes as large as a cherry. Those of many of the species, known by the colonists as Guarry, are eaten.
1887 S.W. Silver & Co.’s Handbk to S. Afr. 139Guarribesjies, a well-known fruit, eaten by the natives as the fruit of the Guarriwood, Euclea undulata.
1966 C.A. Smith Common Names 239Guarribessies, The succulent and edible fruits of Euclea undulata.
1970 Beeton & Dorner in Eng. Usage in Sn Afr. Vol.1 No.2, 18Edible small succulent fruits known as ‘guarribessies’ wh[ich] the Hott[entots] fermented to make a type of vinegar.
In full guarriboom/-bʊəm/ [Afrikaans, boom tree], guarri bosch obs. [Dutch, bosch bush], guarri bush, guarri tree, guarriwood:Any of several trees or shrubs of the genus Euclea of the Ebenaceae, especially E. undulata. Also attributive. Occasionally with distinguishing epithet, as blue guarri (E. crispa), sea guarri (E. racemosa), etc.
In full guarribessie/-ˌbesi/, formerly also guarribesjie:the succulent, edible fruit of any of several species of guarri.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

17901993

Browse Related Words

By Category

Trees
Bushes and Shrubs

By Origin

Khoi Nama and San Languages

By Usage

obsolete or obsolescent
GST, nounn.guava, nounn.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English