voetsak, verb

/ˈfʊtsæk//ˈfu(r)tsek/
Forms:
feusach, feusackShow more Also feusach, feusack, foetsek, voertsak, voertsek, voetsek, voessek, voetsac, voetsack, voetzaak, voetzac, voortsec, voortzuk, vootsac, vootsek, vortsak.
Origin:
South African Dutch, DutchShow more South African Dutch voertsek, voetsek, contraction of Dutch voort seg ik, be off I say.
colloquial
Note:
In all senses also footsack.
1. intransitive An interjection or imperative.
a. Go away, ‘scram’, ‘get lost’: a rough command, as spoken to a dog or (with either insulting or humorous intent) to a person. Cf. hamba sense 1, loop sense 1 b.
1837 J.E. Alexander Narr. of Voy. I. 351Dogs attacked us as we approached; but on the cry of ‘voortzuk!’ from the master, followed by a stone, they left us.
1899 Natal Agric. Jrnl 31 Mar. 4‘Voetsek,’ according to Cape, or ‘footsack,’ according to Natal newspaper spelling, is an expression that soon attracts the attention of new-comers. It means ‘forth say I,’ an abbreviation of ‘voort zeg ik,’ and is exclusively applied to dogs.
1908 D. Blackburn Leaven 258‘Can’t understand a damn word I say; but I’ll learn him. Voetzak, you —!’ He gave the boy a helpful kick down the embankment.
1911 L. Cohen Reminisc. of Kimberley 380When I shouted I wanted to buy something, he cautiously opened the top part wide enough to show his carrot nose, and cried, ‘Voetsak!’ which is a highly expressive Dutch word meaning ‘slip off’.
[1916 L.D. Flemming Fool on Veld (1933) 5It is a well known fact that all the dogs in the Free State are called ‘Voetzak’ and that when you call them they run away.]
1930 N. Stevenson Farmers of Lekkerbat 16If he saw that one of them was resting he would shout angrily: ‘Why are you idling there, you rascals?’ Or if it was a woman he would cry ‘Voertsek!’
1956 A. Sampson Drum 159The English just use long words and big talk, isn’t it? Segregation — ah, democracy — ah, civilised men...The Dutchmen just say ‘you blerry Kaffir, you voetsak!’ They both mean the same; but with the Dutchmen you know where you are, man! Give me the Nats!
1963 A. Fugard Blood Knot (1968) 172Zach: Voertsek. Morris: Yes, Voertsek off. We don’t want you. Zach: Bugger off.
1976 M. Tholo in C. Hermer Diary of Maria Tholo (1980) 110You could hear that the maid was getting impatient with them. ‘Eat your breakfast or voetsak out of here.’
1988 Now Everyone Is Afraid (Catholic Inst. for Internat. Rel.) 85The police took them to fetch the body of the dead man and then dropped them at a taxi rank and said: O.K., voertsek, fuck off, go home.
[1993 Cape Times 25 Feb. 1One of the men pulled a pistol from his belt saying ‘jy voetsek’ before shooting.]
b. An exclamation or expletive, expressing rejection or disgust.
1949 O. Walker Wanton City 74What’s White civilization in South Africa?..Social inhibitions imported from Europe? Broken accents from the world’s ghettos? Fooie! Voetsak.
1974 Drum 22 Apr. 25Hamba. Voetsek. Haikona. Blast it all.
1982 N.S. Ndebele in Staffrider Vol.5 No.2, 2‘Voetsek!’ the woman cursed suddenly.
1990 A. Wagenaar in Personality 21 May 23You thought South African prices were going through the roof. R30 000 for a Toyota. Eina! R150 000 for a Merc. Voertsek!
2. Indicative or infinitive.
a. transitive. rare. To chase (something) away.
1897 E. Glanville Tales from Veld 227I jes’ drop in t’ ask you voetsack all the dogs outer the place ’fore I bring him in.
b. intransitive. To go, clear out, ‘push off’, especially on another’s orders.
1920 [see hamba sense 1].
1951 H.C. Bosman in L. Abrahams Jurie Steyn’s Post Office (1971) 155Although I didn’t say anything to him,..when I was going out of the store, he called out to me, all the same, to voetsek.
1978 Daily Dispatch 17 July 6But if you are wellwrapped in your fur or leather jacket and munching a hamburger or chicken pie while carrying the banner I shall tell you to Voertsek.
1986 R. Constantine in New Coin Poetry Dec. 16No-one else approached her, so no-one made them voetsek.
1990 G. Slovo Ties of Blood 255Instead of telling the government to voetsak they roll over and concede without a fight.
Go away, ‘scram’, ‘get lost’: a rough command, as spoken to a dog or (with either insulting or humorous intent) to a person.
An exclamation or expletive, expressing rejection or disgust.
To chase (something) away.
To go, clear out, ‘push off’, especially on another’s orders.
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18371993
voetsak, nounn.voetstofie, nounn.
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