‖kankerbos, noun

/ˈkaŋkə(r)bɔs/
Forms:
Formerly also kankerbosch.
Origin:
Afrikaans, South African DutchShow more Afrikaans (earlier South African Dutch kankerbosch), kanker cancer + bos bush.
cancer bush. Also attributive, and in dimunitive form kankerbossie.
1924 D. Fairbridge Gardens of S. Afr. 155Perhaps of all the leading herbs of South Africa, the greatest hopes have centred round Sutherlandia Frutescens, known to the Dutch as the Kankerbosch.
1931 Farming in S. Afr. Sept. 216 (Swart)They preferred by far the ‘Klein Kankerbos’ (Sutherlandia frutescens), in spite of the fact that most farmers believe that this bush is not touched by any animal.
1949 L.G. Green In Land of Afternoon 51There is the kankerbos, which has failed to provide a cure for cancer...Mrs Dijkman..advised the silvery kankerbos leaves for ordinary stomach troubles.
1953 Cape Times 14 July 2These (sc. existing plantings) will be followed by the introduction of more woody species, such as bitou, blombos, kankerbossie and waxberrie.
1966 C.A. Smith Common Names 275Kankerbos(sie), Sutherlandia frutescens...The leaves..are aromatic and very bitter, used medicinally by the Hottentots in decoctions for washing wounds and internally for fevers.
cancer bush. Also attributive, and in dimunitive form kankerbossie.
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19241966

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Afrikaans
kanga, nounn.kanna, nounn.2
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