mealie

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Afrikaans mielie, from obsolete Dutch milie (“millet, maize”), from Old French mil (“millet”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmiːli/
• Homophone: mealy

Noun

mealie (plural mealies)

1. (South Africa) An ear or kernel of maize; in plural as mass noun: maize, corn.
   • 1897, James Bryce, Impressions of South Africa‎^[1], page 90:

     The wants of a native living with his tribe and cultivating mealies or Kafir corn are confined to a kaross (skin cloak) or some pieces of cotton cloth.

   • 1952, Doris Lessing, Martha Quest, Panther, published 1974, page 8:

     At the other end of the veranda, on two deck-chairs planted side by side and looking away over the bush and the mealie fields, were Mr. Quest and Mr. Van Rensberg […]

   • 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, page 10:

     My mother planted and harvested her own mealies.

Derived terms

• mealie land
• mealie meal

Anagrams

• Emelia