toppie, noun2

/ˈtɒpi//ˈtɔpi/
Forms:
Also itopi, topie.
Origin:
IsiZulu, HindiShow more Perhaps from isiZulu ideophone thopi, of growing sparsely, as in ukuthi thophi ‘to be sparse’, used of thinning hair (among other things); or from Hindi topi hat, pith-helmet (see quotation 1963), via the Nguni languages (see quotations 1963).
slang
A middle-aged or elderly man; a father; loosely, a ‘chap’ or ‘fellow’. Also with defining word: old toppie, ou toppie (in the plural referring to both sexes, ‘old people’, ‘parents’), and shortened form old top.
1963 [see larney noun sense 1 a].
[1963 Wilson & Mafeje Langa 28The middle-aged and elderly type known as amatopi from topi, the pith sun-helmet worn by an earlier generation of Europeans...The amatopi proper are over 45.]
[1963 Wilson & Mafeje Langa 163R was still kicking him when an elderly man, an itopi, appeared.]
1966 Drum 30 Jan. 20‘Members only’, says a certain toppie with grey hair.
1970 Post 15 Mar. 9Oom Piet makes me — in my old safari suit — look like a refugee from the bush. He’s such an elegant topie.
1970 J.R. Bennett Informant, KrugersdorpMy old Topie bought a new car (father, old man).
1974 J. Matthews Park (1983) 44De ole toppies is in for drunk, an’ so de two party boys. De lighty issa moffie mobster.
1978 L. Barnes in The 1820 Vol.51 No.12, 19[In S. Afr. Indian English] The kêrel usually means ‘my father’, ‘my old man’. He is also referred to as the ‘old toppie’ or the ‘old ballie’.
1979 F. Dike First S. African 12How can he live at the hostels taking all that shit from those topies there?
1979 Sunday Times 21 Oct. (Mag. Sect.) 1Old top means either a parent, or someone who is past it.
1980 S. Roberts in Bloody Horse No.2, 55Grandpa Bezuidenhout was turning eighty-nine, and Ruff begged to be allowed to arrange the candles on the huge cake baked for the old toppie.
1982 Sunday Times 6 June (Mag. Sect.)Like this taxi rocks up with two old toppies. I quickly suss that the taxi-driver oke..is taking his cherrie (some ancient bird with ringlets) for a ‘hoddog’ and chips.
1982 D. Kramer Short Back & Sides 46All the old toppies..Used to get pissed out of their heads And their wives had to drive them home.
1986 Weekly Mail 18 Apr. 19I tell you we couldn’t move for the air-conditioned coach loads of toppies buying roast peanuts.
1987 O. Musi in Drum June 58A far-sighted topi who also happens to be a member of the Rotterdam City Council..strongly suggested that the Council buy and run its own brothel.
1990 J. Naidoo Coolie Location 129All you have to do is to get one of the boys working for your toppie to come to the shop..with the receipt and the outstanding amount in cash.
1990 C. Leonard in Weekly Mail 2 Nov. 28It is a family occasion, with the ou toppies, ma, pa, ouboet and the kids listening to the music and braaing under the eucalyptus tree.
A middle-aged or elderly man; a father; loosely, a ‘chap’ or ‘fellow’. Also with defining word: old toppie, ou toppie (in the plural referring to both sexes, ‘old people’, ‘parents’), and shortened form old top.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

19631990
toppie, nounn.1Torch Commando, noun phrasen. phr.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English