‖mtombo, noun

/(ə)mˈtɔ(ː)mbɔ/
Forms:
imithombo, imitomboShow more Also imithombo, imitombo, mthombo.
Origin:
IsiXhosa, isiZuluShow more IsiXhosa and isiZulu imithombo, malted grain.
1. a. Sprouted sorghum millet used for brewing beer; see also sorghum sense 1. b. tshwala sense a i. In both senses also called momela.
1907 W.C. Scully By Veldt & Kopje 69They had to appear at the ‘Great Place’..each bringing a contribution of ‘imitombo,’ or millet...It is from this, after it has been boiled and fermented, that the liquor known as ‘Kaffir beer’ is made.
1951 Drum Nov. 10My friend and I were drinking pineapple brew in Alexandra. It is made with mtombo, pineapple, sugar, oats, carbide and so on.
1978 A. Elliott Sons of Zulu 129This dry sprouted corn is called imithombo. It is now ground into powdered malt in a concave milling stone.
1980 E. Joubert Long Journey of Poppie Nongena 262However much she strained so the mtombo boiled up and she couldn’t keep ahead, straining the beer.
1985 W.O. Ka Mtetwa in Staffrider Vol.6 No.2, 45Libazisa, a mthombo brewed beer.
2. combination
mtombo-mmela/(ə)mˈtɔmbɔ (ə)mˈme(ː)la/ [Southern Sotho mmela malted grain; cf. momela], the bilingual Nguni-Sotho name given to a commercially-produced beer.
1971 Drum Jan. 25 (advt)Now you can legally brew..Mtombo-Mmela Home Brew. Stronger, smoother, richer. Guaranteed pure and healthy...King Korn mtombo-mmela the strongest home brew.
1971 Post 14 Mar. 12 (advt)Famous people drink King Korn mtombo-mmela. Follow the leaders and entertain your friends too in the comfort and safety of your home.
1981 Pace Sept. 174The hypothetical TV2 programme, shows..SA’s first black jet flyer in a commercial advertising ‘mthombo mmela’ or ‘A1 mageu’.
Sprouted sorghum millet used for brewing beer;
tshwala sense a i. In both senses also called momela.
, the bilingual Nguni-Sotho name given to a commercially-produced beer.
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Senses

19071985

Compounds

mtombo-mmela
mshoza, nounn.mtshana, nounn.
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