vygie, noun

/ˈfeɪxi/
Forms:
vijge, vijgenShow more Formerly also vijge, vijgen, vijgie.
Origin:
Afrikaans, South African DutchShow more Afrikaans, ‘little fig’, vyg abbreviation of South African Dutch vygebosch (see preceding entry) + diminutive suffix -ie.
Any of several species of succulent flowering plants of the Mesembryanthemaceae, especially of the genera Mesembryanthemum, Lampranthus, Stoeberia, and Dorotheanthus; mesem; vygebosch. Also attributive. See also bokbaai vygie, skilpadbos (skilpad sense b).
1924 D. Fairbridge Gardens of S. Afr. 105At Kew every weed of the veld seemed to be in blossom in the houses — all labelled with long Latin names which gave them an air of distinction and set them apart from our homely ‘Vygies’ and ‘Buchus’.
1931 Farming in S. Afr. 393 (Swart)Strange to say, the mineral and feeding-stuff analyses of a vygie give no clue to its probable palatability.
1948 H.V. Morton In Search of S. Afr. 117The best mutton in South Africa is raised on the small moisture-holding vygies of the Little Karoo and the Great Karoo.
1951 L.G. Green Grow Lovely 19The vygies! Neon colours, staring from the petals with the authority of Pharaoh’s glance..acres of vygies so close together that you do not dare to walk among them.
1968 M. Muller Green Peaches Ripen 37The banks of the white sand-dunes were bejewelled with glittering vygies.
1975 S. Afr. Panorama Sept. 32The majority of the 3 000 recognised vygie (mesembryanthemum) species occur in Namaqualand.
1981 D. Court Succulent Flora of Sn Afr. 31There’s no doubt that the ‘vygies’ are responsible for the brightest and glossiest patches of the South African veld.
1990 Weekend Mail 14 Sept. 6I..have a soft spot for vygies. My garden sports..one with obscenely bright pink flowers and another with luminous orange blooms.
1993 Weekend Post 2 Oct. 7Small yellow and orange vygie plants.
Any of several species of succulent flowering plants of the Mesembryanthemaceae, especially of the genera Mesembryanthemum, Lampranthus, Stoeberia, and Dorotheanthus; mesem; vygebosch. Also attributive.
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Afrikaans
vygebosch, nounn.vywer, nounn.
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