kaffir-sheeting, noun

Origin:
EnglishShow more kaffir + English sheeting.
obsolescent, offensive
A thick, soft, coarsely woven cotton fabric used for clothing and inexpensive curtaining; K-sheeting, see K sense 1.
Note:
Not usually used for sheets.
[1836 C.L. Stretch Journal. 8 JuneThe articles furnished were of the most common material, a Jacket of ‘Caffre baize’, imitation moleskin trousers, a common black hat, 2 cotton shirts, and a tin jug.]
[1868 T. Stubbs Reminisc. (1978) 211Levies..generally received a few yards of Caffer duffel or coarse gursey, and for boots a pair of soles and a piece of sheep skin.]
1959 J. Meiring Candle in Wind 161She had had to wrap them both in an old piece of kaffir-sheeting.
1967 J.A. Broster Red Blanket Valley 7A coarse white cotton cloth called ‘Kaffir sheeting’ from which all Qaba dress is made.
1971 Daily News 4 Mar. (Trend) 6The couch is in apple green and white floral linen and the curtains are of kaffir sheeting.
1972 Radio South Africa 11 Sept. (Woman’s World)Young Xhosa girls wear short skirts made of Kaffir sheeting, dyed with ochre and often decorated with beadwork.
1974 E. Prov. Herald 27 Mar. 10First quality Kaffir Sheeting with a..textured effect that goes with every decor. Available in 10 decorator shades.
1979 Grocott’s Mail 21 Aug. 2When shopping, the girls would wrap a piece of ‘Kaffir’ sheeting around the top parts of their bodies.
1980 C. Hope A Separate Development (1983) 104The art students one knew by their ponchos, rough woven kaffir-sheeting dyed red and black, draped over sky-blue jeans.
1992 Weekend Post 31 Oct. 9Kaffir beer had been largely replaced by sorghum beer,..kaffir sheeting by heavy sheeting, [etc.].
A thick, soft, coarsely woven cotton fabric used for clothing and inexpensive curtaining; K-sheeting, see K sense 1.
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18361992

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obsolete or obsolescent
derogatory or offensive
kaffir piano, noun phrasen. phr.Kaffrarian, adjectiveadj.
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