paling, noun

/ˈpɑːləŋ//ˈpɑːlɪŋ/
Forms:
Also palang.
Origin:
Afrikaans.
Any of several species of marine or freshwater eel (order Anguilliformes), particularly Muraena mossambica. Also attributive.
1947 K.H. Barnard Pict. Guide to S. Afr. Fishes 64In South Africa there is only one species [of eel]: the South African Fresh-water Eel, or Paling (Anguilla mossambica).
1949 J.L.B. Smith Sea Fishes of Sn Afr. 388Muraena Mossambica...Eel. Paling...Found in most inland waters of the Cape, Natal, and Transvaal and further north. Attains at least 30lbs in the rivers of the Eastern Cape.
1965 J. Bennett Hawk Alone 145He and Stuart would go down to the winding river..to catch eels, palings they called them.
1970 A. Palmer Informant, King William’s Town, Eastern CapeWe went palang fishing (eel fishing) on Saturday.
1972 Grocott’s Mail 4 Mar.Landed a moray eel, the bont paling. They are not common in our area and one this size (one metre) is exceptional.
1981 Grocott’s Mail 10 Nov. 8Local freshwater angler John Knoetze holds the huge one metre ‘paling’ (eel) which he caught at the Fish River Bridge...The Fish River Bridge area is well-stocked with this edible fish, the usual size caught being up to ,75 metres.
1984 J. Breytenbach Informant, Grahamstown (now Makhanda, Eastern Cape)There was I with my line, my hook, and my proppie, fishing for palings.
Any of several species of marine or freshwater eel (order Anguilliformes), particularly Muraena mossambica. Also attributive.
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Afrikaans
paint-stone, nounn.pallah, nounn.
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