matjiesgoed, noun

/ˈmaɪkisxʊt//ˈmaɪkisxut/
Forms:
Formerly also matjes goed, occasionally matjes goederen.
Origin:
Afrikaans, South African DutchShow more Afrikaans, earlier South African Dutch matjesgoed, matjes combining form of matje little mat + goed stuff, material (plural goederen).
Any of several species of reed or rush used for making mats and baskets, and for thatching. a. The river reed Cyperus textilis of the Cyperaceae; occasionally, any of several other species of Cyperus; mat-rush. See also matjiestou. b. rare. Either of two rushes, Typha domingensis or T. capensis of the Typhaceae. b. rare. Either of two reeds, Scirpus corymbosus or S. inanis of the Cyperaceae. Also attributive.
[1795 C.R. Hopson tr. of C.P. Thunberg’s Trav. II. 37Mat-ware (Matjegoed) is the name given here to a kind of rush that grew in the river, and of which mats were made, that were used by the husbandmen for the tilts of waggons, and also to lie on.]
1812 A. Plumptre tr. of H. Lichtenstein’s Trav. in Sn Afr. (1928) I. 87Matjesgoed is the name given to a sort of rush, of which very pretty mats are made in this country.
1822 W.J. Burchell Trav. I. 263Of this rush, which is called the Hard Matjes-goederen, the Hottentots, in these districts, make all their mats, which are much more durable than those made of Cyperus textilis, distinguished by the name of Sagt (soft) Matjes goederen, the material of all the mats made near Cape Town.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 312Matjesgoed,..Cyperus textilis. This reed is so called because it is largely used for making mats and baskets.
1917 R. Marloth Dict. of Common Names of Plants 57Matjesgoed, Cyperus textilis. In some districts Typha australis.
[1934 P.R. Kirby Musical Instruments of Native Races (1965) 236This ‘string’ is made from a swamp grass called nala (called by the Dutch matjesgoed, a name given by them to several species of grasses, but in this instance to Typha capensis).]
1955 L.G. Green Karoo 63Matjesfontein takes its name from the rush called Matjiesgoed from which mats are made.
1963 R. Lewcock Early 19th C. Archit. 155The roofing material was still generally thatch, made from ‘matjes goed’ reed.
1966 C.A. Smith Common Names 333Matjiesgoed, Cyperus textilis...The long culms were extensively used by the Hottentots for making mats..for their houses, whence the vernacular name..C. sexangularis; C. marginatus and C. sphaerospermus..are similarly used. Scirpus corymbosus..: The tallish culms are used by natives for mat-making, whence the vernacular name...The name sometimes applied to Typha australis and T. capensis...The vernacular name here applied from the use of the long leaves for making mats used for shelters, etc...Scirpus spathaceus.
1971 L.G. Green Taste of S.-Easter 182Missions sent produce to the Early Morning Market, not only fruits and vegetables but articles made of taaibos and matjiesgoed.
1973 M.A. Cook Cape Kitchen 19These cross-reeds, known as loopriete, were then tied to the reeds of the ceiling proper with lashing made of a small rush Cyperus textilis, i.e. matjiesgoed.
The river reed Cyperus textilis of the Cyperaceae; occasionally, any of several other species of Cyperus; mat-rush.
Either of two rushes, Typha domingensis or T. capensis of the Typhaceae.
Either of two reeds, Scirpus corymbosus or S. inanis of the Cyperaceae. Also attributive.
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matingola, nounn.matjieshuisie, nounn.
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