ingubo, noun

/iŋˈɡʊːbɔ/
Forms:
ingoobo, ingoobuShow more Also ingoobo, ingoobu, ingouboo, inguba, ingubu, nguba, ungoobo.
Origin:
IsiZulu, isiXhosaShow more IsiZulu and isiXhosa ingubo cloak, blanket; western clothing.
1. kaross sense 1.
1833 S. Kay Trav. & Researches 37He maintained that every thing around him, mountains, rivers, grass, cattle, and even his ingubu, ‘beast-skin garment’, proved the truth of what had been said respecting the being of a God.
1836 A.F. Gardiner Journey to Zoolu Country 90He (Charka) immediately rose and attempted to throw off his ingoobo (skin mantle) but fell in the act.
1837 F. Owen Diary (1926) 25They (sc. the tribesmen) asked in exchange for their fowls, Indian corn and pumpkins, either handkerchiefs, blankets or ‘ingubo’ i.e. a mantle or carosse.
1837 J.E. Alexander Narr. of Voy. I. 386From the shoulder hangs the ungoobo, kaross, or mantle of softened hide, worn with the hair next to the body, and fastened with a thong at the neck.
1860 W. Shaw Story of my Mission 406A Kaffir wears this ingubu, or ‘kaross,’ with the hairy side next to his skin, throwing it over his shoulders, from whence it hangs down to his ancles, being fastened in front of the throat by means of a thong.
1983 S. Afr. Digest 20 May 24Natalie Knight, creator of Ndebele Images. Behind her is the huge Nguba — a fully beaded blanket consisting of white beads and geometric designs.
2. transferred sense. Clothing; second-hand clothing.
1837 F. Owen Diary (1926) 77He..abruptly asked me what was the use of giving all that ingoobu to the children, alluding to the Kilts of Dingareen with which I have clothed the boys.
1855 G. Brown Personal Adventure 92Not an article of the pillaged clothing was anywhere to be seen. The men had stolen away.., laid aside whatever they had on or about them and appeared again in their own ingubo.
1899 G. Russell Hist. of Old Durban 187Cast-off articles of European attire, known to the Natives as ‘Ingouboos’.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 226Ingubu,..A dress or garment of any kind is offered for sale to the Natal natives under this name.
1967 E. Rosenthal Encycl. of Sn Afr. 260Ingubu, Name used by Africans in Natal for second-hand garments. The word was derived from an expression meaning ‘skin’.
Clothing; second-hand clothing.
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IsiZulu
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ingqanga, nounn.initiation school, noun phrasen. phr.
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