Ikey, noun

/ˈaɪki/
Origin:
EnglishShow more Special sense of general English Ikey (diminutive form of Isaac), used derogatorily of a Jew (see quotation 1984); reportedly first used by Stellenbosch University students in songs at an intervarsity rugby match in 1919.
colloquial
a. A student of the University of Cape Town; a member of a sports team representing this university. Also attributive.
1921 Cathartic (Univ. of Cape Town) Sept. 4We believe that the recent protest on the part of the S.R.C. to the Maatie University, re the name ‘Ikey,’ which has been applied to us at Inter-’Varsity, has caused considerable criticism in ’Varsity circles.
1971 Cape Times 15 May 24The chances of John le Roux and his green-horned underdog Ikeys pulling off an upset win in the 58th intervarsity at Newlands to-day look slim indeed.
1984 P. Beale Dict. of Slang & Unconventional Eng. 592Ikeys, Students of the old South African College, now the University of Cape Town, so called by their rivals of Victoria College, Stellenbosch, because of their large Jewish enrolment.
1987 S. Roberts Jacks in Corners 148‘After my training,’ said Will, ‘I worked among students, Witsies and Ikeys, from 1972 through 1974’.
1988 E. Prov. Herald 23 July 3Excesses such as those at last year’s Ikey-Matie intervarsity rugby match would ‘put the annual event in direct danger of cancellation’.
1990 T. Partridge in Sunday Times 12 Aug. 20On paper an Ikey victory yesterday appeared to be about as feasible as an igloo in the Sahara desert — the last time the UCT students had beaten their arch enemies was in 1976.
b. Always in pl. The University of Cape Town; a sports team from this university. Also attributive. See also UCT.
1971 C. Hoogendijk Informant, WelkomIt’s really wet down here now and I don’t blame you for leaving Ikeys.
1973 Star 8 June 13At Ikeys, too, there is a lot of indifference. But that is universal. In our parents’ day they had something to fight for.
1981 Campus Sport Vol.5 No.5, 2Huge crowd watches Ikeys thrash Maties.
1990 T. Partridge in Sunday Times 12 Aug. 20If Western Province had played this season with as much fight and spirit as Ikeys did in yesterday’s inter-varsity at Newlands, they would already have been well on their way to the Currie Cup final.
A student of the University of Cape Town; a member of a sports team representing this university. Also attributive.
Always in pl. The University of Cape Town; a sports team from this university. Also attributive.
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colloquial
ijuba, nounn.ikhankatha, nounn.
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