‖impofu, noun

/imˈpɔːfu/
Forms:
empofos, imfofoShow more Also empofos, imfofo, impofo, impoof, impoofo, impophoo, mpofu.
Origin:
IsiXhosa, IsiZuluShow more IsiXhosa and isiZulu impofu, formed on adjectival stem -mpofu tawny.
eland sense 1 a.
[1785 G. Forster tr. of A. Sparrman’s Voy. to Cape of G.H. II. 205In one of the places above referred to, I have mentioned, that it (sc. the eland) is called by the Caffres empofos; I have since found in my manuscript notes, that it is likewise called by the same nation poffo, and by the Hottentots t’gann.]
[1789 Encycl. Brit. (1797) IV. 147The Caffres call this species empofos and poffo.]
[1834 Penny Cyclopaedia II. 89The Canna,..improperly called eland or elk by the Dutch colonists of South Africa and impoof by the Caffres.]
1839 W.C. Harris Wild Sports 83During the day I killed another impoofo, which actually measured nineteen hands two inches at the shoulder.
1875 Encycl. Brit. II. 101The eland or impophoo (Boselaphus Oreas) is one of the largest of the antelopes.
1884 Cassell’s Nat. Hist. III. 21Writing on the hunting of these creatures, known in South Africa as the Impoofo, the same author (sc. W.C. Harris) remarks that, ‘notwithstanding the unwieldy shape of these animals, they had at first greatly exceeded the speed of our jaded horses’.
[1900 Sclater & Thomas Bk of Antelopes IV. 198Eland of the Dutch at the Cape...Impofo of the Amandabele, Zulu, and Kafirs...Mpofu (Swaheli).]
1967 E.M. Slatter My Leaves Are Green 138‘Not Mpofu, Nkosi,’ he grumbled as an eland came in sight. ‘The Nkosi knows a Zulu does not eat the flesh of Mpofu.’
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IsiXhosa
IsiZulu
impimpi, nounn.impundulu, nounn.
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