(South Africa) A scalp disease similar to favus, characterised by hair loss and white crust.
(South Africa) A scalp disease similar to favus, characterised by hair loss and white crust.
A report of eight cases of witkop (a disease affecting hairy skin on the scalp characterised by alopecia and the formation of thick white crusts on the affected scalp) in Bantus aged 18-20 years is given.
"witkop" means: A scalp disease similar to favus, characterised by hair loss and white crust.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
"witkop" means: A scalp disease similar to favus, characterised by hair loss and white crust.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
"witkop" means: A scalp disease similar to favus, characterised by hair loss and white crust.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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(South Africa, disease) A viral infection of horses causing swelling of parts of the head.
Afrikaans compound meaning literally 'white tree' (wit + boom), used for Leucadendron argenteum, a striking silver-leaved protea native to the Cape Peninsula. Its leaves were historically used for thatching and its image appears on the Cape Town city coat of arms.
(South Africa) Home-distilled brandy or raw spirit, colourless and with a powerful kick.
(Scotland, UK, _, dialect) A weasel or stoat.
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South African slang for a fool, idiot, or slow-witted person — borrowed directly from Afrikaans where it literally means 'dumb head'. Domkop is used affectionately between mates who've done something silly, or more pointedly when someone has genuinely made a boneheaded mistake. It has the punchy, satisfying quality of Afrikaans insults and is widely understood across South Africa's multilingual social landscape.