‖velkombers, noun

/ˈfelkɔmbɛrs//ˈfelkɔmbeəs//ˈfɛlkɔmbɛrs/
Forms:
feldt comberse, veld combasShow more Formerly also feldt comberse, veld combas, veldcombers, veldt combass, veldt-kombaars, veldt kombarse, velkombaars, velkombars, velkomers.
Origin:
Afrikaans, DutchShow more Afrikaans, from Dutch vel skin, hide + kombaars (ship’s) blanket. There was formerly some confusion among English speakers over the similar-sounding vel and veld countryside, field (cf. veldskoen).
obsolescent
kaross sense 1.
1822 W.J. Burchell Trav. I. 360Three on the right, beating a large vel-kombáars (or sheepskin coverlet), a frequent and very necessary operation.
1832 Graham’s Town Jrnl 18 May 80(b)On Saturday, the 26th May, on account of William Henry Bond, one Silver Watch, one volume of a Family Bible, one Velkombaars.
1852 N.J. Merriman Cape Jrnls (1957) 186I was compelled, though my horse was thin and poor, to ride with the post till I overtook the wagon, as they had my veldt kombarse, or blanket, with them.
1862 ‘A Lady’ Life at Cape (1963) 105The veldt-kombaars or sheep-skin rug..is made of little squares of lamb skin.
1862 Lady Duff-Gordon Lett. from Cape (1925) 157I have a glorious ‘Velkombaars’ for you, a blanket of nine Damara sheep-skins, sewn by the Damaras, and dressed so that moths and fleas won’t stay near them.
1870 ‘Jno.’ in Cape Monthly Mag. II. 179 (Pettman)Wrapped in a thick velkombars (sheepskin covering) we were not long in wooing ‘tired nature’s sweet restorer — balmy sleep’.
1878 T.J. Lucas Camp Life & Sport 137The clothing consisted of a huge feather mattress, not always of the sweetest kind, and a feldt ‘comberse,’ or quilt, made of a blanket sewn up in a sheet of cotton print, and, apparently, never washed.
1922 J.G. Fraser in F.G. Butler When Boys Were Men (1969) 212He and his elder were sleeping together under their velkombaars (sheepskin blanket).
1955 L.G. Green Karoo 66Colin Fraser..was asleep one night under his velkombers (sheepskin blanket).
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18221955

Browse Related Words

By Category

Household Items

By Origin

Afrikaans
Dutch

By Usage

obsolete or obsolescent
veldwagtmeester, nounn.vellie, nounn.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English