struis, noun

Forms:
Also stroois.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, contraction of strooi huis, strooi straw + huis house.
A thatched hut built in traditional African style; transferred sense, the home of a Black (farm) labourer (so called whether thatched or not).
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 484Struis, A not infrequent contraction in the Transvaal of stroohuis [sic], a straw-house.
1919 M.M. Steyn Diary 131Upon some kopje about a mile away, the shepherd would erect a small reed house (‘struis’ — short for ‘strooi huis’ — straw house,) and for three weeks or as long as the eggs were being hatched, he would remain watching the nest.
1970 Informant, Grahamstown (now Makhanda, Eastern Cape)Jonas lives in the struis on the hill. (Native hut).
1971 M. Britz Informant, Grahamstown (now Makhanda, Eastern Cape)He went to fetch the boy...While he was down at the struis I was pacing up and down.
1975 Dict. of Eng. Usage in Sn Afr. 169Stroois,..alt: struis. Afr[ican] hut; the word is a contraction of ‘strooi-huis’ (straw house) in ref. to the thatched roof.
A thatched hut built in traditional African style; transferred sense, the home of a Black (farm) labourer (so called whether thatched or not).
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19131975