strykgeld, noun

Forms:
Formerly also strijkgeld.
Origin:
South African Dutch, DutchShow more South African Dutch, transferred use of Dutch strijkgeld premium.
obs. except in historical contexts
see quotation 1927.
Note:
A term used in the Dutch method of auctioneering. See also afslag, opslag sense 2.
1823 W.W. Bird State of Cape of G.H. 42To encourage these speculators to go on bidding, money sometimes to the amount of more than one thousand rix-dollars is given to the individual who bids the largest sum on the advance, and this is called the strykgeld.
[1839 S. Afr. Commercial Advertiser 11 Sept.Thursday Morning, 18th September Two Hire Houses Situate in Vrede Street, St Johns Street. Liberal Stryk-money will be given on the landed property.]
1839 S. Afr. Commercial Advertiser 18 Sept.The House is in a thorough state of repair, with every requisite for a genteel family;..Liberal Strykgeld will be given. Vendue Officer, Stellenbosch.
1873 Cape Monthly Mag. VI. 209A fundus (landed property) is..always sold twice, once by public proclamation or by the rise to the highest bidder (who receives ten or twelve or more ducats as strijkgeld, as he seldom cares to remain the purchaser..), and then by the fall.
1913 G.E. Cory Rise of S. Afr. II. 254This premium was the strijkgeld or reward to the man who bid highest without, most probably, any intention of buying.
1913 G.E. Cory Rise of S. Afr. II. 255The highest upward bidder received a certain percentage of the value of the property sold and this was called the strijkgeld.
1927 C.G. Botha Social Life in Cape Col. 99The method of selling immovables at such sales differed somewhat to that of other countries. The property was first of all sold by opslag, advance bidding, and then put up again and sold by afslag, or downward bidding. The bidder in the first instance did not intend to make the purchase, but rather to increase the final sum. For this service, he received a bonus, or, as it was called, strykgeld...Advertisements of sales invariably stated that ‘liberal strykgeld’ would be given, which naturally tended to bring many to the sale and also enhanced the purchase price.
1965 [see opslag sense 2].
see quotation 1927.
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18231927