Maatschappij, noun

/ˌmɑːtskaˈpeɪ/
Forms:
Also Maatschappy.
Plurals:
Maatschappijen.
Origin:
DutchShow more Dutch, partnership, company.
obs. except in historical contexts
A name given to an early form of local government among the Boers in the regions that were to become Orangia, the Transvaal Republic, and the Republic of Natalia.
1857 J.M. Orpen Hist. of Basutus 22The Boers were, at this time, divided into parties, the greater portion under a rude form of government, called the ‘Maatschappy’.
1878 A. Aylward Tvl of Today 10Potgieter and his followers, in declaring their new government — the ‘Maatschappij’ — claimed absolute independence.
1908 J.M. Orpen Reminisc. (1964) 224Much the same sort of Government had existed a few years before in Winburg and Harrismith, when they, as well as the Transvaal, were loosely united under that sort of government which was called the Maatschappij (association or partnership) and there was a wish among a good many, as it appeared, in the Free State, to revert to it.
1973 Std Encycl. of Sn Afr. IX. 299In March all the ‘maatschappijen’ or communities in the Transvaal ratified an agreement which brought into existence a united Transvaal republic.
A name given to an early form of local government among the Boers in the regions that were to become Orangia, the Transvaal Republic, and the Republic of Natalia.
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obsolete or obsolescent
maatjie, nounn.mabalane, nounn.
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