voortrekker

noun

voor·​trek·​ker

ˈfōrˌtrekər

plural -s

often capitalized

: a South African pioneer

especially : one of the Boers who took part in the trek from Cape Colony to the Transvaal in 1834–37

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans, from voor before, in front (from Middle Dutch vore) + trekker emigrant, from trek to pull, move, emigrate + -er; akin to Old High German fora before

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