Kafir

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

  kafir \kafir\ n.
     Same as {Kaffir}. [South Africa]
  
     Syn: kaffir, caffer, caffre.
          [WordNet 1.5]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  kafir
       n 1: an offensive term for any Black African [syn: {kaffir}, {caffer},
             {caffre}]
       2: a member of the Kafir people in northeastern Afghanistan