‖tarentaal, noun

/ˌtar(ə)nˈtɑːl//ˌtær(ə)nˈtɑːl/
Forms:
Also tarantal, tarentall.
Plurals:
unchanged, tarentaals, or ‖tarentale/ˌtar(ə)nˈtɑlə/.
Origin:
Afrikaans, South African Dutch, Latin, DutchShow more Afrikaans; according to Boshoff & Nienaber (Afrikaanse Etimologieë, 1967) adaptation of South African Dutch Terra-Natal(vogel) ‘land of Natal (bird)’, from Latin terra land + Natal (+ Dutch vogel bird), or Ternataalsche (hoender), Ternataalse (hoender) (Dutch hoender chicken).
Either of two species of guineafowl of the Numididae, Numida meleagris or Guttera pucherani.
Note:
In G.L. Maclean’s Roberts’ Birds of Sn Afr. (1993), the name ‘helmeted guineafowl’ is used for N. meleagris, and ‘crested guineafowl’ for G. pucherani.
[1822 W.J. Burchell Trav. I. 364The missionaries have a few domestic fowls..and Guinea hens or Pintadoes, which are called by the quaint name of Jan Tadentaal.]
1827 T. Philipps Scenes & Occurrences 99The dogs..soon sprung ten guinea fowl, exactly like those now bred in Europe, called here, by the Hottentots tarentalls.
1906 W.L. Sclater Birds of S. Afr. IV. 228Crowned Guinea-fowl...‘Tarantal’ of Dutch.
1912 Northern News 27 Aug. (Pettman)It is rather interesting to note that there are two names for the guinea-fowl living side by side, ‘Poulepetate’ and ‘Tarentaal,’ apparently of Indian origin.
1948 H.V. Morton In Search of S. Afr. 282We would walk over the veld watching the guinea-fowl, the tarentaal, pour away into the mealies as if on rails.
1953 U. Krige Dream & Desert 187Great Oupa, whose ear was so acute he could hear from the front stoep the call of a tarentaal against the ridge, slowly opened his eyes.
1963 M. Kavanagh We Merry Peasants 127I have in my fowl run a pair of guinea fowl and I travelled many miles by car to purchase another pair from another country dealer. No sooner had these been introduced to my pair when the trouble began — those ‘tarentale’..obviously derive their origin from South America and not South Africa!
1976 Het Suid-Western 8 Sept.The Hunting Season for guinea fowls (tarentaal) will be from April 1 to July 31.
1982 E.M. Macphail Falling Upstairs 19Her father said ‘I’ll take a couple of tarentaal for the boys before we start back’.
Either of two species of guineafowl of the Numididae, Numida meleagris or Guttera pucherani.
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Tante, nounn.target, nounn.
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