TOCK-TOCKIE, a slow-moving beetle, incapable of flight. Gets its name from its means of signalling by rapping the abdomen on the ground (tenebrionid beetle of the genus Psammodes).
TREK (d) (literally to pull), to move off or go on a journey; a journey, an expedition—eg, the Great Trek (or exodus of Boers from Cape Colony, 1836-48); also, and commonly, the time, distance, or journey from one outspan to another.
TREK GEAR, the traction gear, chain, yokes, etc, of a waggon. The Boer pioneers had no chains, and used reims plaited into a stout ‘rope’; hence trek-touw, or pulling-rope.
TSESSEBE, an antelope, one of the hartebeeste family (Damaliscus lunatus; Dutch, bastard hartebeeste). Height, 48 inches; weight. 300 pounds; horns, 15 inches.
TSETSE FLY, a grey fly, little larger than the common house-fly, whose bite is fatal to domesticated animals.
TWIGGLE, little people’s word for the excited movement of a small dog’s tail, believed to be a combination of wriggle and twiddle.
UMFAAN (n), a boy.
UMGANAAM (n), my friend.
UMLUNGU (n), the native word to describe a white man.
VELD (pronounced felt) (d), the open or unoccupied country; uncultivated or grazing land.