voortang, noun

/ˈfʊə(r)taŋ/
Origin:
Afrikaans, South African DutchShow more Afrikaans, from South African Dutch voor fore, front + tang pair of tongs.
Wagon-making
A shaped wooden block connecting the perch-pole (or long-wagon) and shaft (or disselboom) of an ox-wagon; fore-tongue. Cf. agtertang.
1899 Natal Agric. Jrnl 31 Mar. 4All words in connection with trekking are of Dutch origin...besides the parts of the wagon, such as ‘draaibord,’ ‘voortang,’ ‘schammel,’ etc.
a1928 C. Fuller Louis Trigardt’s Trek (1932) 101When part way down, the voortang broke in the axle.
1934 C.P. Swart Supplement to Pettman. 187Voortang, The wooden block passing from the long-wagon through the axle-bed to the shaft of the ox-wagon, connecting the long-wagon and the shaft.
1958, 1977 [see agtertang].
A shaped wooden block connecting the perch-pole (or long-wagon) and shaft (or disselboom) of an ox-wagon; fore-tongue.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18991934

Browse Related Words

By Category

Transport

By Origin

Afrikaans
voorstel, nounn.voortou, nounn.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English