papegaai, noun

/papəˈxaɪ/
Forms:
Also papagaai.
Origin:
South African Dutch, AfrikaansShow more South African Dutch (later Afrikaans), parrot.
A target in the shape of a parrot, traditionally used in Stellenbosch at marksmanship contests during the annual celebrations commemorating the birthday of Simon van der Stel. Also attributive, and combination. papegaai shoot, such a contest.
1817 G.M. Theal in J. Mockford Here Are S. Africans (1944) 36A figure resembling a parrot, and hence called a papegaai, was fixed upon a pole in the centre of a circle with a radius of sixty feet. The marksmen chose their positions upon the arc of this circle.
[1918 D. Fairbridge Hist. of S. Afr. 47This target-shooting gave the name Papagaaisberg to a little hill near Stellenbosch, on the summit of which was the target in the form of a gaily painted wooden parrot — in Dutch papagaai.]
1944 J. Mockford Here Are S. Africans 36Shooting with hand steadied muskets at a brightly painted papegaai and firing pistols from the backs of galloping horses — these competitions gave high moments to the fair.
1952 G.M. Mills First Ladies of Cape 33He emphasized the importance of good markmanship during the gay fortnight of his birthday when military exercises took place at Stellenbosch. The principal target of the practice was a clay bird called a parrot or papegaai.
1972 Argus 14 Oct. 8Members of the South African Historical Arms Association take part in the traditional ‘papagaai’ shoot at the festivities marking the birthday of Governor Simon van der Stel in Stellenbosch today.
1975 Sunday Times 20 Apr. 16It was a Pieter Bekker, who first inflamed official wrath as the ‘leader of the unruliness at the annual Stellenbosch papagaai shoot’.
A target in the shape of a parrot, traditionally used in Stellenbosch at marksmanship contests during the annual celebrations commemorating the birthday of Simon van der Stel. Also attributive, and combination. papegaai shoot, such a contest.
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18171975
papbroek, nounn.papies, nounn.
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