spanspek, sponspek, noun
- Forms:
- Show more Also spaansch spek, spaanspek, spanspeck, sponspeck, and with initial capital(s).
- Origin:
- Afrikaans, South African Dutch, DutchShow more Afrikaans (earlier South African Dutch), adaptation of Dutch Spaansche spek ‘Spanish bacon’, the name in the West Indies for a type of melon (Van Dale Groot Woordeboek der Nederlandse Taal, 1859); see also quotations 1913 and 1972; and the following:
- Note:
- ‘It seems that Sir Harry Smith [the Governor of the Cape Colony]..liked his British breakfast of ham and eggs every morning. But his Spanish wife, Lady Juana Smith, preferred musk-melon...Lady Juana’s Hottentot maids..considered musk-melon for breakfast rather peculiar, while “spek” for breakfast was O.K. with them. So they..called Lady Juana’s breakfast “Spaans spek”, meaning “Spanish ham”.’ (A. Theron, More South African Deep-Freezing, 1970, p.173).
The musk melon or sweet melon Cucumis mels of the Cucurbitaceae, round in shape, with succulent pinkish-gold flesh and a hard, textured skin; Spanish Spec(k). Also attributive.
[1731 G. Medley tr. of P. Kolben’s Present State of Cape of G.H. II. 277Melo Hispanicus i.e. The Spanish or Musk-Melon. The Musk-Melons, produc’d at the Cape, are as good as Those produc’d in Spain. The Cape-Europeans call ’em Spanish Bacon.]
1990 Weekend Post 17 Feb. (Leisure) 6Peeled and served ice-cold, prickly pears are delicious, and, combined with watermelons or spanspek or in a fruit salad, they are gourmet fare.
The musk melon or sweet melon Cucumis mels of the Cucurbitaceae, round in shape, with succulent pinkish-gold flesh and a hard, textured skin; Spanish Spec(k). Also attributive.
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