pypie, noun

Forms:
papie, pijpeShow more Also papie, pijpe, pijpie, pypje.
Origin:
Afrikaans, South African DutchShow more Afrikaans (earlier South African Dutch), pyp pipe + diminutive suffix -ie; see quotation 1973.
Any of various species of indigenous plants with tubular flowers, especially species of gladiolus, ixia, and watsonia.
1907 A.R.E. Burton Cape Col. Today 250Watsonia, One of the commonest plants we have. They are known locally as pijpes.
1912 Cape Times 14 Sept. 9The pretty little pink or reddish papie (gladiolus villosus) is scattered over flat places.
1913 H. Tucker Our Beautiful Peninsula 70Garden-gay with..the pale blue and delicate rose of afrikanders and pypjes.
1917 R. Marloth Dict. of Common Names of Plants 66Pijpe, Used for many plants with tubular flowers, but especially for species of Watsonia, Antholyza and Gladiolus.
1924 D. Fairbridge Gardens of S. Afr. 122The sweet-scented Afrikanders and Pypjes belong to the gladiolus family.
1928 Jrnl of Botanical Soc. of S. Afr. XIV. 8One’s youthful memories of the Aandbloms, Painted Ladies, Papies and Afrikanders that marked the passing of the months.
1970 M. Muller Cloud across Moon 26I combed the lower slopes of the peaks for pink pypies, the delicate pale pink gladioli Trina loved so much.
1973 Beeton & Dorner in Eng. Usage in Sn Afr. Vol.4 No.2, 38Pypie,..first applied to one or several species of Gladiolus or Watsonia wh[ich] resemble miniature, long-stemmed pipes; this is most pronounced when the base of the stem is held up & only one flower hangs down.
1981 L. Bolus in P. Dane Great Houses of Constantia 73There was eager waiting for the first pypies, blue and pink.
Any of various species of indigenous plants with tubular flowers, especially species of gladiolus, ixia, and watsonia.
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19071981