Definitions For Rooinek

Noun

ROOINEK (plural ROOINEKs) (South Africa, derogatory, ethnic slur) An englishman, or a South African that speaks English as opposed to Afrikaans. from 19th c.

Etymology

From {{etyl, af, en}} rooinek, from rooi, , red + nek, , neck. Probably a reference to the fact that Englishmen, being new to Africa, wore inadequate headgear (such as solar topees (pith helmets) or no hat at all) and thus sunburned more easily than Afrikaners. Other theories have it being a reference to the then red collars of British military uniforms, or to the red markings that British farmers put on their imported merino sheep. Compare redneck.

Anagrams

nookier