highveld, noun
- Forms:
- Also with initial capital, and (formerly) high veldt.
- Origin:
- Afrikaans, South African DutchShow more Partial translation of Afrikaans hoëveld, from South African Dutch hoogeveld, hoogeveldt, see Hooge Veld.
a. The inland plateau of southern Africa, lying mostly between 1 200m and 1 800m above sea-level; formerly called Hooge Veld. See also lowveld, middleveld. b. The grasslands of this region. c. Johannesburg and the area around it (the commercial and industrial centre of the region). Also attributive.
- Note:
- The highveld is one of the major physiographic regions of southern Africa. The South African highveld extends over the Gauteng Province, and includes parts of the Eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga), the northern Orange Free State (now Free State), the Northern Cape, and parts of the North-West Province; the boundaries of the region, based on vegetation, altitude, and prominent physical features, are not clearly defined.
1877 F. Jeppe Tvl Bk Almanac & Dir. (1976) 31In the Southern Districts, and along the highveldt, the habit exists of burning off the grass during the dry winter season, in order to improve the pasturage.
The inland plateau of southern Africa, lying mostly between 1 200m and 1 800m above sea-level; formerly called Hooge Veld.
The grasslands of this region.
Johannesburg and the area around it (the commercial and industrial centre of the region). Also attributive.
- Derivatives:
- Hence highvelder /ˈhaɪfeldə/ noun, an inhabitant of the highveld.1977 A. Cruickshank in The 1820 Vol.50 No.12, 19Wine festivals and wine auctions are becoming frequent events...The lucky people in the Cape are able to enjoy these occasions far more often than the Highvelders.1990 H.P. Toffoli in Style Nov. 56Nine out of ten highvelders believe that Durban is a shoppers’ absolute desert, darling.
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