landdrost, noun
- Forms:
- Show more Formerly also landdrest, landdroost, landrest, landros, landrost, landruest, llandrost, and with initial capital.
- Plurals:
- landdrosts, occasionally landdrosten.
- Origin:
- South African Dutch, Dutch, AfrikaansShow more South African Dutch, from Dutch land country + drost bailiff. (In Afrikaans, landdros magistrate).
historical
- Note:
- The first landdrost was appointed in 1685; in 1827, landdrosts were replaced by civil commissioners and magistrates, but the title was revived in the Boer republics (see sense 2).
1. Under Dutch East India Company rule: the magistrate and chief administrator of a district or ‘drostdy’ (see drostdy sense 1), and chairman of the board of heemraden; drost. Also attributive. See also heemraad.
1731 G. Medley tr. of P. Kolben’s Present State of Cape of G.H. II. 10He gave this Land-Drost the Powers of a Fiscal Independent (an Officer in the Capian Colony) to seize and prosecute all Criminals, Vagabonds and disorderly Persons in the Colonies for which he was appointed.
1985 S. Afr. Panorama Oct. 15Building started in 1804 when the first landdros (magistrate), Hendrik van de Graaff was appointed to the Land of Waveren and the newly proclaimed town of Tulbagh.
2. In the former Boer republics: a magistrate. Also attributive.
1846 Natal Witness 8 MayA further sum..which he also owes..by virtue of a certain Deed..signed by him..before Johan Philip Zietsman, then Landdrost of this District of Pietermaritzburg.
1973 The 1820 Vol.46 No.11, 7The landdrost was a well-known figure in Johannesburg, in his flat-topped hat, morning coat, light trousers and with his characteristic limp.
the magistrate and chief administrator of a district or ‘drostdy’ (see drostdy sense 1), and chairman of the board of heemraden; drost. Also attributive.
a magistrate. Also attributive.
- Derivatives:
- Hence landdrostdy noun, drostdy sense 1; landdrostship noun nonce, the office of landdrost.1821 T. Philipps Philipps, 1820 Settler (1960) 104Capt. Trappes having Bird’s interest expected to have succeeded to the Landdrostship, and in this state matters were when the Govnr determined to come up here.1972 Evening Post 19 Feb. (Weekend Mag.) 2The veldkornetcy of Achter Bruintjes Hoochte..was by then the eastern section of the Graaff-Reinet landdrostdy.
Copyright © 2023 Dictionary Unit for South African English.