lapa, noun

/ˈlɑːpə/, /ˈlaːpa/
Forms:
Also lappa, ‖lelapa.
Origin:
Sotho
1. In a traditional Sotho homestead: the forecourt, the first of two courtyards in the walled enclosure which contains the cluster of huts belonging to one family, providing an area for cooking, eating, and recreation. Also transferred sense, used of any enclosure, and attributive.
1924 E.B. Ford Waterfalls 10My boy! My son! He brought me everything His mealie-cart, his whip, his earthen cow And I played with him in the ‘lapa’ ring.
1948 E. Hellmann Rooiyard 9Six Sotho women have each constructed a lapa (courtyard) of clay and cow-dung in front of their rooms.
1960 C. Hooper Brief Authority 34The low lelapa wall which surrounds each family’s group of buildings.
1974 S. Afr. Panorama May 20Each complex is integrated in an individual fashion. In some, the units are grouped about a centralised forecourt — or ‘lapa’ — with entrance through a gateway in the decorated ‘lapa’ wall.
1976 West & Morris Abantu 138A typical homestead had another wall dividing the area into two courtyards: the front, lapa, being the cooking and entertaining area; and the rear one, mafuri, a private area for the family.
1982 Voice 21 Mar. 10We dug a hole in the middle of the lapa (courtyard) and plastered the walls with dung.
1985 Style Oct. 150His sunlit south-facing living room: ‘I call this westernised African lapa.’...From this lapa spaces fan out to a marvellously appointed kitchen; a cool diningroom [etc.].
1990 E. Koch in Weekly Mail 30 Mar. 11With that (sc. R200 a month) he tries to feed his wife, nine children and a horde of grandchildren who scamper around the lapa of his homestead.
2. boma noun1 sense 2.
1982 S. Afr. Panorama Dec. 13Dinner is served in a reed walled boma, or lapa, within which tables are arranged in a big semi-circle. In the centre burns a log fire.
1987 You 3 Sept. 104Paradise Game Ranch is an exclusive, private game reserve on the Lowveld...Dinner around the braai in the lapa is an unforgettable experience.
1990 ‘T. Equinus’ in Weekly Mail 2 Nov. 54We realised that we had driven into the wrong camp...Five Dobermans shepherded us into a lapa where we were given a Bible quiz, intermediate level.
1990 Weekend Post 8 Dec. 12Game spotting and bird-watching can be arranged..and traditional delicacies like potjiekos and braais are held on farms in thatched structures called lappas.
1991 C. Urquhart in Weekend Post 16 Mar. (Leisure) 4These ‘safari farmers’ offer a variety of activities, including game viewing,..lapa braais, conducted tours and night game spotting drives.
the forecourt, the first of two courtyards in the walled enclosure which contains the cluster of huts belonging to one family, providing an area for cooking, eating, and recreation.
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19241991

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Sesotho and Sesotho sa Leboa
lap, nounn.lapa, adverbadv. & adjectiveadj.
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