sorghum, noun
- Origin:
- English, South African EnglishShow more In general English use, but of local significance. (In South African English, perhaps applied to a wider variety of species than in general English).
1. Any of several species of Sorghum, especially the widely cultivated Indian millet S. bicolor (or S. vulgare), the grain of which is ground to make porridge, and sprouted to make beer; mabela sense a. Also attributive. See also imfe, mtombo sense 1 a.
- Note:
- ‘Sorghum’ is increasingly the preferred term as the offensive word ‘kaffir’ in the name kaffircorn is avoided.
a1915 H.W. Struben in A.C. Partridge Lives, Lett. & Diaries (1971) 129We kept our horses in good fettle on cut buffalo grass and ‘sorghum’ (Kaffir corn).
1985 Cape Times 10 Oct.Later they bought an adjacent farm,..using the women’s sorghum — ‘kaffircorn’, they still call it — which sold at the time for nearly £4 a bag.
2. In full sorghum beer: tshwala sense a i. Also attributive.
- Note:
- ‘Sorghum beer’ is increasingly the preferred (urban) term as the offensive kaffir beer is avoided.
1975 Friend 11 June 1In a bitter blow to thousands of African beer drinkers, the Government has authorised a massive 33⅓ percent increase in the retail price of sorghum (Ijuba) beer.
1990 M. Kentridge Unofficial War 86A reporter..found..a group of Inkatha men sitting around drinking sorghum beer. They were armed with sticks and knobkerries.
3. derogatory. rare. A black person.
1978 Drum Apr. 2There was a time they referred to us as sorghums in Pretoria. This was after they had changed kaffir corn and kaffir beer to sorghum corn and sorghum beer.
Any of several species of Sorghum, especially the widely cultivated Indian millet S. bicolor (or S. vulgare), the grain of which is ground to make porridge, and sprouted to make beer; mabela sense a. Also attributive.
A black person.
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