kaffir Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun important for human and animal food; growth habit and stem form similar to Indian corn but having sawtooth-edged leaves
    Sorghum bicolor; kaffir corn; kafir corn; great millet.
  2. noun an offensive and insulting term for any Black African
    caffre; kafir; caffer.

WordNet

Kaf"fir, Ka"fir noun (Also<
  • Kaffir
  • Kafir
)
Etymology
Ar. kfir infidel, pagan, fr. kafara to be skeptical in religious matters; -- a name given to certain infidel races by the Mohammedans. Cf. Giaour.
Definitions
  1. (Ethnol.) (a) One of a race which, with the Hottentots and Bushmen, inhabit South Africa. They inhabit the country north of Cape Colony, the name being now specifically applied to the tribes living between Cape Colony and Natal; but the Zulus of Natal are true Kaffirs. (b) One of a race inhabiting Kafiristan in Central Asia. Spelt also Caffre.

Webster 1913