klinker, noun

Origin:
DutchShow more Dutch, a very hard, pale-coloured brick, from klinken to sound, ring.
Note:
Found in general English as clinker.
1. [Transferred use of Dutch sense.] Any very hard biscuit.
1874 A. Edgar in Friend 23 Apr.After performing such a good morning’s work, we solaced ourselves with ‘klinkers’ and cold beef.
1900 G. Moll in E. Hobhouse Brunt of War (1902) 49They brought us food after we were almost starved, which consisted of six tins of bully beef, and some biscuits (Klinkers) in a dirty grain bag..; the poor children could not eat the biscuits as they were too hard.
1902 C.R. De Wet Three Yrs War 48On some of the wagons we found klinkers, jam, milk, sardines, salmon, cases of corned beef, and other such provisions in great variety.
1970 M. Van Rensburg Informant, Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha), Eastern CapeKlinker. Army biscuit.
2. A clinker, a small, exceptionally hard, pale-coloured brick used especially for exposed work, steps, or paving; klompie noun2. Also in combination klinker-brick.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 265Klinkers,..A brick that has been partially vitrified in the kiln used for paving courtyards.
1971 S. Afr. Panorama Sept. 8Brick klinkers and wood make an attractive combination. Like face bricks their biggest advantage is that they do not require plastering or painting.
1981 P. Dane Great Houses of Constantia 39Caused some experts..to believe that Van der Stel had built the homestead of imported Dutch klinker bricks.
1984 Sunday Times 1 Apr. (Mag. Sect.) 34 (advt)Luxury Living: Superb klinker-brick home commanding..sea views.
1990 E. Prov. Herald 5 Mar. 9 (advt)Klinkers and Red building bricks available at all times.
1991 G. Silber in Style Nov. 173These walls do a magnificent job of hiding poorly designed klinker-brick townhouse complexes from public view.
1992 Grocott’s Mail 22 May 8 (advt)Somerset Heights. Klinker brick home with many unusual features.
Any very hard biscuit.
A clinker, a small, exceptionally hard, pale-coloured brick used especially for exposed work, steps, or paving; klompie noun2. Also in combination klinker-brick.
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18741992