zinc, noun

Forms:
Also zink.
Origin:
South African DutchShow more Calque formed on South African Dutch zink galvanized iron.
Galvanized iron, i.e. iron coated with zinc, used in the manufacture of baths, buckets, other household utensils, and flat or corrugated sheets for the roofs and walls of buildings. Also attributive. See also tin.
Note:
Also used in this sense in West Indian English.
Note:
Some of the earlier quotations may be referring to true zinc.
1831 S. Afr. Almanac & Dir. 179The upper part of the roof is covered with zinc, which has not been found to answer the high expectations formed of its suitability.
1833 Graham’s Town Jrnl 24 Jan. 1 (advt)On Sale..sheet Zinc for roofing.
1862 T. Shone Diary. 25 Sept.Henry was helping..Knight Roof his house with zink.
1876 F. Boyle Savage Life 25A crowbar, two zinc buckets, [etc.].
1883 O.E.A. Schreiner Story of Afr. Farm 18The zinc roofs..reflected the fierce sunlight.
1926 P. Smith Beadle (1929) 66On its flat, zinc roof yellow pumpkins were stored for winter use.
1949 J. Mockford Golden Land 69The house-tops..are frequently made of sheets of corrugated-iron — galvanised iron, as it is called, or, popularly, zinc.
1956 D. Jacobson Dance in Sun 11On the post there was a sheet of flattened zinc with the name of the farm painted in black upon it.
1959 K.M.C. Motsisi in M. Mutloatse Casey & Co. (1978) 31I don’t take to the thought of being thrown out of my zinc-and-cardboard shanty easily.
1967 E.M. Slatter My Leaves Are Green 160There was a zinc bath which could be filled with water heated on the stove.
1973 Evening Post 19 May 20 (advt)Sale of 21 Prefabricated Timber and Iron (Zinc) Huts.
1986 D. Case Love, David 40I ran to the zinc fence and peered through one of the holes.
1989 H. McIndoe in Sunday Times 5 Mar. 14The passport issue does not worry the 20 families living in a cluster of zinc shacks at Ariamsvlei township.
1990 [see pondok].
Galvanized iron, i.e. iron coated with zinc, used in the manufacture of baths, buckets, other household utensils, and flat or corrugated sheets for the roofs and walls of buildings. Also attributive.
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18311989

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