vingerpol, noun

/ˈfəŋə(r)pɔl//ˈfɪŋɡəpɒl/
Forms:
Also vingerpoll.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, vinger finger + pol tuft, tussock.
Any of several species of Euphorbia which have finger-like succulent branches, especially E. caput-medusae (found in the Cape Peninsula), and E. esculenta (found in the Karoo). Also Englished forms fingerpohl, fingerpol, finger-pole, finger-poll.
1883 M.A. Carey-Hobson Farm in Karoo 196‘Here is another very curious plant, circle within circle of things like fingers.’ ‘That is just what it is called,’ said Frank. ‘Finger-pole’; it has a very large white juicy root...We dig it up out of the earth, and the moment it is exposed the cattle and sheep eat it with avidity.
1889 H.A. Bryden Kloof & Karroo 258Spent and foundered oxen..when fed with fingerpoll, regained vitality.
1890 A. Martin Home Life 58Another of our many eccentric-looking plants, the finger-poll, is also used in very dry seasons to feed cattle.
c1911 P. Weyer in S. Playne Cape Col. 175‘Fingerpohl’..is looked upon as being exceedingly nutritious for all kinds of ruminating stock, and, indeed, for ostriches...It gives a very large tap-root which, in its raw state, can be eaten by human beings.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 536Vingerpol,..Euphorbia caput-medusæ. A plant with a bunch of finger-like growths; it is common in most parts of the Karoo.
1917 R. Marloth Dict. of Common Names of Plants 86Vingerpol, Unarmed species of Euphorbia of the section Meduseae, e.g., E. Caput medusae (Lionshead near C.T.) and E. esculenta, the latter a valuable and drought-resisting nutritious stockfood (Jansenville).
1966 C.A. Smith Common Names 84Vingerpol, Euphorbia caput-medusae.
1973 O.H. Spohr tr. of F. Krauss’s Trav. Jrnl 82This plant ‘fingerbollen’, ‘Fingerpol’ appears only outwardly to be an Euphorbia caputmedusae, but belongs actually to the section Euphorbia pseudomedusae, and is described as Euphorbia esculenta Marloth.
Any of several species of Euphorbia which have finger-like succulent branches, especially E. caput-medusae (found in the Cape Peninsula), and E. esculenta (found in the Karoo). Also Englished forms fingerpohl, fingerpol, finger-pole, finger-poll.
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Afrikaans
vigilante, nounn. & adjectiveadj.vingertrek, nounn.
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