parabat, noun

/ˈpærəbæt/
Forms:
Also with initial capital.
Origin:
Blend formed on Parachute Battalion.
Military
A member of the Parachute Battalion of the defence forces. Also attributive.
1972 [see vasbyt].
1977 B. Marks Our S. Afr. Army 49 (caption)Note the emergency parachute on the parabat’s stomach.
1977 Daily Dispatch 26 Nov. 9Parabats’ death...A regional magistrate found..that the deaths of two members of 2 Parachute Battalion..were caused by the actions of some person.
1978 Daily Dispatch 8 Sept. 2A 29-year-old Parabat company commander jumped to his death near Bloemfontein yesterday.
1986 Cape Times 28 Mar.The troops are believed to be paratroops who have been in the Peninsula for some time...Six Buffels carrying the parabats were parked outside the Manenberg police station.
1987 Personality 30 Sept. 12Louis exhibited none of the tough, vasbyt characteristics which the public (possibly incorrectly) have come to associate with the parabats and Recces.
A member of the Parachute Battalion of the defence forces. Also attributive.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

19771987

Browse Related Words

By Category

Units and Formations
Occupations
papsak, nounn. phr.parallel, adjectiveadj.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English