solder, noun

Forms:
Formerly also zolder.
Origin:
Afrikaans, DutchShow more Afrikaans, from Dutch zolder.
Architecture
A loft or attic. Cf. brandsolder sense 2.
1862 Lady Duff-Gordon in F. Galton Vacation Tourists (1864) III. 159There is a yard behind, and a staircase up to the zolder or loft, under the thatch...There are no ceilings; the floor of the zolder is made of yellow wood, and, resting on beams, forms the ceiling of my room.
1891 H. Rabone in A. Rabone Rec. of Pioneer Family (1966) 95Dear Harrie and I slept in the great zolder, and a larger or more airy bedroom few people have had.
1891 J.P. Legg in Cape Illust. Mag. I. 96In our houses we should find it hard to do without our ‘solder.’
1913 W.C. Scully Further Reminisc. 46This (sc. the coffin) was kept upstairs in the ‘solder’, where it was used as a receptacle for ‘bultong’ and dried peaches.
1945 N. Devitt in Outspan 27 July 51All self-respecting heads of Boer families would have their coffins ready against the day. It was usually kept in the ‘solder’ or loft.
1977 N. Okes in Quarry ’77 136There in the eerie unaccustomed brightness illuminating the voorhuis, she saw that the whole central gable had collapsed, bringing parts of the solder with it.
1987 G. Viney Col. Houses 34There was an amount of wheat and rye in the solder.
A loft or attic.
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18621987