KAFFIR

kaffir, kafir, caffer, caffre

(noun) an offensive and insulting term for any Black African

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Noun

Kaffir (plural Kaffirs)

Alternative letter-case form of kaffir

Etymology

Noun

kaffir (countable and uncountable, plural kaffirs)

(countable, offensive) In Islamic contexts, a non-Muslim. [from 16th c.]

(countable, offensive) A member of the Nguni people of southern Africa, especially a Xhosa. [from 16th c.]

(countable, South Africa, Rhodesia, ethnic slur, offensive, derogatory) A black person. [from 17th c.]

(uncountable, now, historical, offensive) A language spoken by the Nguni peoples of southern Africa, especially Xhosa. [from 19th c.]

(finance, slang, historical) South African mining shares [from early 20th c.]

Usage notes

This word was widely used in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Since the mid-twentieth century it has been regarded as derogatory.

Source: Wiktionary


Kaf"fir, Ka"fir, n. Etym: [Ar. k infidel, pagan, fr. kafara to be skeptical in religious matters; -- a name given to certain infidel races by the Mohammedans. Cf. Giaour.] (Ethnol.) (a) One of a race which, with the Hottentots and Bushmen, inhabit South Africa. They inhabit the country north of Cape Colony, the name being now specifically applied to the tribes living between Cape Colony and Natal; but the Zulus of Natal are true Kaffirs. (b) One of a race inhabiting Kafiristan in Central Asia. [Spelt also Caffre.] Kaffir corn (Bot.), a Cape Colony name for Indian millet.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

19 May 2025

CHEMICAL

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