uncle, noun
- Origin:
- English, AfrikaansShow more Special senses of general English, influenced by Afrikaans oom, see oom.
colloquial
1.
b. A respectful or friendly form of address to a man who is not a blood relation, especially one older than the speaker; sometimes used in the (Afrikaans) respectful third person form (see quotation 1979). Cf. oom sense 2.
1873 F. Boyle To Cape for Diamonds 368We met a dingy old farmer going to his work on Bultfontein. ‘Good morning, uncle!’ said Mr. Fry. ‘Good morning, brother!’ returned the Boer.
2. As a common noun: oom sense 3.
1883 O.E.A. Schreiner Story of Afr. Farm 137Some day, sooner or later, these graves will open, and those Boer-uncles with their wives walk about here in red sand.
A title, with a name: oom sense 1 a.
A respectful or friendly form of address to a man who is not a blood relation, especially one older than the speaker; sometimes used in the (Afrikaans) respectful third person form (see quotation 1979).
As a common noun: oom sense 3.
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