sakabula, noun

Forms:
isakubula, sacaboolaShow more Also isakubula, sacaboola, saccaboola, saccabula, sakaboola, sakabuli, sakabulla, sakubola, and with initial capital.
Origin:
IsiZuluShow more Adaptation of isiZulu isakabuli widow bird.
The longtailed widow bird Euplectes progne of the Ploceidae; also called flop. Also attributive.
1877 Lady Barker Yr’s Hsekeeping 179Lynx tails hung down like lappets on each side of her face which was over-shadowed and almost hidden by the profusion of sakabula feathers.
1885 H. Rider Haggard King Solomon’s Mines (1972) 127They were all men of mature age, mostly veterans of about forty...They wore upon their heads heavy black plumes of Sacaboola feathers, like those which adorned our guides.
1896 H.L. Tangye In New S. Afr. 105One of the most strange inhabitants of the Transvaal is a small black bird, the Sakabula.
1905 W.L. Sclater in Flint & Gilchrist Science in S. Afr. 138The Great-tailed Widow Bird (Coliopasser procne)..is called ‘Sakabuli’ by the kafirs and often by the English, and has a tail sometimes reaching a length of 20 inches although the body of the bird only measures three or four.
1936 E.L. Gill First Guide to S. Afr. Birds 28Sakabula, Diatropura progne...The males in breeding dress, flying over the veld with their enormous tails streaming behind them, are a common sight in many parts of the country.
1937 S. Cloete Turning Wheels 362A saccabula, gorgeous in his black spring feathers, his wings blotched with red.
1949 J. Mockford Golden Land 83Uniformed in leopard skins and sakabula feathers, the feathers of the widow-bird.
1969 E. Roux Grass: Story of Frankenwald 43The sakabula will not breed except in long grass and does not flourish when open fields give place to cultivation, orchards and buildings...The sakabula..eats seeds only.
1973 Weekend Post 28 Apr. 3The long-tailed, black widow birds, commonly known as sakabullas.
1980 J.O. Oliver Beginner’s Guide to our Birds 71A familiar sight to everyone in the summer, is the male ‘Sakabula’ with his long, beautiful tail, flying over his territory.
The longtailed widow bird Euplectes progne of the Ploceidae; also called flop. Also attributive.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18771980