Browse dictionary
Showing 1-20 of 31 results in 31 entries
1. abura, n. View full entry 1921
...A tree of tropical West Africa, Mitragyna ciliata (family Rubiaceae), from which a soft pale wood is obtained; the wood of this tree, used esp. for furniture, flooring,...
2. agboin, n. View full entry 1920
...= dahoma...
3. Americani, n. View full entry 1881
...A kind of (inferior, typically unbleached) cotton cloth, originally as exported by American traders to East Africa. Cf. Merikani, American cloth(b)American3a....
4. dioch, n. View full entry 1889
...An African weaver-bird of the genus Quelea....
5. idigbo, n. View full entry 1942
...The light-coloured durable hardwood timber of a West African tree, Terminalia ivorensis (family Combretaceae), used for various purposes including cabinetmaking and joinery. Also: the tree itself, which is...
6. ingubu, n. View full entry 1833
...Among the Zulu inhabitants of Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal province): clothing....
7. iroko, n. View full entry 1890
...A hardwood tree of the genus Chlorophora, either C. excelsa, which is found across the central part of Africa, or C. regia, which grows in the...
8. kanzu, n. View full entry 1902
...A long white cotton or linen robe as worn by East African men....
9. kaross, n. View full entry 1731
...A mantle (or sleeveless jacket) made of the skins of animals with the hair on, used by the Khoekhoe and other rural indigenous peoples of South Africa....
10. kente, n. View full entry 1957
...In full, kente cloth. In Ghana, a banded material; also, a long garment made from this material, loosely draped on or worn around the shoulders and waist....
11. khansu, n. View full entry 1969
...A loose outer garment worn in East Africa....
12. kikoi, n. View full entry 1942
...In East Africa, a striped cloth of distinctive design with an end fringe, worn round the waist. Also attrib....
13. kino, n. View full entry 1788
...A substance resembling catechu, usually of a brittle consistence and dark reddish-brown colour, consisting of the inspissated gum or juice of various trees and shrubs of tropical and sub-tropical regions; used in...
14. kitenge, n. View full entry 1969
...In East Africa, a fabric, usu. of cotton and printed in various colours and designs with distinctive borders, used esp. for women's clothing....
15. kwacha, int. and n. View full entry 1962
...Used as a Zambian and Malawian nationalist rallying cry....
16. lilangeni, n. View full entry 1974
...The basic monetary unit of Swaziland, equal to 100 cents; also, a coin or note of this value....
17. limbo, n.2 View full entry 1891
...A South African name for a kind of coarse calico....
18. moochi, n. View full entry 1872
...A loincloth made of animal tails or leather strips, worn in South Africa as part of traditional Zulu male dress, esp. on ceremonial occasions. Also: a square of beads traditionally worn as...
19. muninga, n. View full entry 1888
...Any of several trees of the genus Pterocarpus (family Fabaceae (Leguminosae)) found in southern Africa, esp. the kiaat, P. angolensis....
20. mvule, n. View full entry 1858
...In East Africa: the iroko tree, Milicia (or Chlorophora) excelsa (also mvule tree); the hardwood timber of this tree, used esp. in cabinetmaking, building,...
