casspir

/ ˈkæspɜː /

noun

1. an armoured military vehicle

Word History and Origins

Origin of casspir¹

C20: coined from an anagram of CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) and SAP (South African Police)

Example Sentences

Irvin sketched an angular, armored military vehicle: the Casspir, a ubiquitous sight in the nation’s townships during the final decades of apartheid.

From Slate

The apartheid state deployed the Casspir to patrol and terrorize Black African communities in the name of keeping “peace.”

From Slate

In the 1980s, the Casspir proliferated across the country, moving from the battlefield and onto the streets.

From Slate

The Casspir, too, is part of this story.

From Slate

Initially improvised as a way to circumvent international sanctions against the apartheid government, the Casspir mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle was invented and produced domestically.

From Slate