K, noun

/keɪ/
colloquial
The eleventh letter of the alphabet, used as an abbreviation:
1. offensive. The initial letter of the offensive word kaffir, used attributively (and euphemistically) in the following phrases: K-beer, tshwala sense a i; K-factor derogatory, stupidity or inefficiency, as offensively attributed by some to Black people; K-form, a word or combination formed with the word ‘kaffir’; K-rations derogatory, cheap foodstuffs supplied to farm labourers or domestic workers (see ration); K-sheeting, kaffir-sheeting; K-word, the word ‘kaffir’.
1981 Argus 27 Aug.‘K’ sheeting R3,25 m. 120 cm wide. Plain dyed in beautiful shades of Apple Green, Biscuit, Rust, Olive, Red, Sky, Natural & Unbleached (White).
1984 Fair Lady 25 Jan. 51All self-respecting radicals of the time had a couple of huge art nouveau posters, a batik lampshade and tie-dyed k-sheeting curtains.
1984 Sunday Times 8 July (Lifestyle) 9The kos, hardly five-star, consists of a reasonable potato hash, cabbage, a vegetarian concoction, plain salad and a fish dish which ran out. Perhaps K-rations would be more suitable.
1985 H. Prendini in Style Oct. 40There is another taboo in Jilly’s vocabulary. She gets around it by abbreviating it to the first letter and then managing to talk quite happily about K-sheeting, K-beer and the K-factor.
1988 E. Prov. Herald 30 July 7Natural K-sheeting (1st quality) m R6,40.
1990 L. Bransby Homeward BoundI was a fool to think..Solomon wouldn’t know K-factor stood for ‘Kaffir’.
1991 B. Ronge in Sunday Times 26 May (Magazine) 8While the ANC was banned and Mandela was imprisoned there was a genuine attempt on the part of most South Africans to curtail racist language and jokes. Now..the K-word has become a commonplace one.
1991 J. Branford Dict. of S. Afr. Eng. 143It (sc. the word ‘Kaffir’) is avoided by most educated speakers and writers, though many K-forms continue in colloquial use.
1992 Grocott’s Mail 16 Oct. 1It’s the ‘k’ word that’s causing conflict.
1992 M. Griffin in Weekend Post 31 Oct. 9Debate about the K-word flared up again this month.
2. Also k., k. Plural ks, k’s. The initial letter of kilometre and (in the plural) kilometres-per-hour; kay.
1981 G. Pienaar in J. Johnson S. Afr. Speaks 41I do a lot of road running in the early mornings. I run five k’s a day, for stamina.
1984 Frontline Feb. 33It’s about ten minutes to the school. That is, at 120 Ks it takes ten minutes.
1987 L. Bennett in Personality 18 Nov. 76The apprentice..gets into his dad’s car and drives a few hundred k’s risking life and limb.
1988 T.J. Lindsay Shadow (1990) 39‘On clearing the line, how far ahead were you?’ ‘About 3.5 Ks, sir.’
1990 Frontline Mar.–Apr. 34Watch out for kudu. They jump for the headlights. We just had a case, about 30 Ks on.
1990 K. Gilbert Informant, Westminster, Free StateI went to the ‘Allotment’ — taking Nina in her push chair, it is about a k. away.
The initial letter of the offensive word kaffir, used attributively (and euphemistically) in the following phrases: K-beer, tshwala sense a i; K-factor derogatory, stupidity or inefficiency, as offensively attributed by some to Black people; K-form, a word or combination formed with the word ‘kaffir’; K-rations derogatory, cheap foodstuffs supplied to farm labourers or domestic workers (see ration); K-sheeting, kaffir-sheeting; K-word, the word ‘kaffir’.
Also k., k.The initial letter of kilometre and (in the plural) kilometres-per-hour; kay.
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19811992
juvenal, nounn.kaal, adjectiveadj.
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