Hottentot noun & adjective. ['hɒt(ǝ)ntɒt] Now considered offensive in reference to the people. L17.
[Dutch, prob. orig. a repetitive formula in a Nama dancing-song, transferred by Dutch seamen to the people themselves.]
A. noun. Pl. same, -s.
1. A member of the Nama people. L17.

2. An ignorant or savage person. Now rare. E18.

3. Any of several southern African marine fishes of the genus Pachymetopon, esp. P. blochii. M19.

4. The language of the Nama people, characterized by click consonants. M19.
b. attrib. or as adjective. Of or pertaining to the Nama people or their language. E18.
Special collocations & phrases: Hottentot bread = elephant's foot s.v. ELEPHANT. Hottentot cherry a southern African evergreen shrub or small tree, Maurocenia frangularia, of the spindle tree family. Hottentot fig a succulent plant, Carpobrotus edulis, of the mesembryanthemum family. Hottentot fish = sense A.3 above. Hottentot god a praying mantis (formerly venerated by the Nama people). Hottentot's bread = Hottentot bread above. Hottentot's god = Hottentot god above. Hottentot's tea, Hottentot tea a shrubby everlasting, Helichrysum orbiculare, infused as a drink by the Nama people.

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