induna

[ in-doo-nuh ]

noun
  1. an official functionary of a king or chief in South African Bantu societies.

Origin of induna

1
Borrowed into English from Zulu around 1870–75

Words Nearby induna

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use induna in a sentence

  • So Ben Halse and the induna agreed to stalk the big koodoo bull with the “record” horns on the following night.

    Forging the Blades | Bertram Mitford
  • Bending down the induna drew forth from some place of concealment a bag made of raw hide.

    Forging the Blades | Bertram Mitford
  • The latter she recognised as one Undhlawafa, a man she knew well, and the favourite and trusted induna of Sapazani.

    Forging the Blades | Bertram Mitford
  • In reply to this Sapazani and his induna put a number of questions to the emissary, as the way of natives is.

    Forging the Blades | Bertram Mitford
  • When an induna of the King is present, is he greater than only the head of a kraal—a large kraal certainly—or is he less?

    A Frontier Mystery | Bertram Mitford

British Dictionary definitions for induna

induna

/ (ɪnˈduːnə) /


noun
  1. (in South Africa) a Black African overseer in a factory, mine, etc

Origin of induna

1
C20: from Zulu nduna an official

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012