quickstertje, noun

Origin:
South African Dutch, DutchShow more Partially Englished form of South African Dutch kwikstertje, from diminutive form of Dutch kwikstaart (see kwikstaart).
obs.
Any of several species of wagtail of the genus Motacilla of the Motacillidae, especially the Cape wagtail (see Cape sense 2 a), M. capensis; kwikstaart; quicky.
[1900 Stark & Sclater Birds of S. Afr. I. 259Motacilla capensis...‘Quick Stertje’ of the Dutch.]
1905 W.L. Sclater in Flint & Gilchrist Science in S. Afr. 139The species most often seen is perhaps the little Cape Wagtail or Quickstertje (Motacilla capensis).
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 389Quick stertje or Quicky,..These friendly little wagtails are regarded everywhere with special favour.
1923 Haagner & Ivy Sketches of S. Afr. Bird-Life 15The confiding little Quickstertje..is too well-known to need any description.
Any of several species of wagtail of the genus Motacilla of the Motacillidae, especially the Cape wagtail (see Cape sense 2 a), M. capensis; kwikstaart; quicky.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

19001923

Browse Related Words

By Category

Birds

By Origin

Dutch

By Usage

obsolete or obsolescent
quick, nounn.quicky, nounn.
Copyright © 2023 Dictionary Unit for South African English.