Kaffir

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Kaffir \Kaf"fir\ (k[a^]f"f[~e]r), Kafir \Ka"fir\
     (k[aum]"f[~e]r), n. [Ar. k[=a]fir infidel, pagan, fr. kafara
     to be skeptical in religious matters; -- a name given to
     certain infidel races by the Mohammedans. Cf. {Giaour}.]
     1. (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, including the Ponda, Xosa, and Tembu; but the
            Zulus of Natal are true Kaffirs.
        (b) One of a race inhabiting Kafiristan in Central Asia.
            [Spelt also {Caffre}.]
            [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Any Black African; -- a disparaging and offensive term
        used by white South Africans. [South Africa]
  
     Syn: kaffir, caffer, caffre.
          [WordNet 1.5]
  
     {Kaffir corn} (Bot.), a Cape Colony name for Indian millet.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  kaffir
       n 1: important for human and animal food; growth habit and stem
            form similar to Indian corn but having sawtooth-edged
            leaves [syn: {great millet}, {kafir corn}, {kaffir corn},
             {Sorghum bicolor}]
       2: an offensive term for any Black African [syn: {kafir}, {caffer},
           {caffre}]