kooper, noun

Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Adaptation of Afrikaans koper buyer, from kopen to buy.
obs. except in historical contexts
kopje-walloper.
1873 F. Boyle To Cape for Diamonds 229The koopers sit silent in their canvas dens, and miserably estimate their losses probable...What do I stand to lose with diamonds down one-third?
1911 L. Cohen Reminisc. of Kimberley 215Undoubtedly, Mr. J.B.R. was a bold and rather careless diamond kooper, and would often make an offer for a large parcel of diamonds, close the envelope, without weighing the diamonds, and return same to the broker to permit him to submit the bid to his principal.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 277Kooper,..In the early days of the diamond fields the diamond buyers were known as ‘koopers’.
1963 [see kopje-walloper].
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18731913