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donga

American  
[dong-guh, dawng-guh] / ˈdɒŋ gə, ˈdɔŋ gə /

noun

  1. (in an ice shelf ) a small ravine with steep sides.

  2. (in South Africa) an eroded ravine; a dry watercourse.


donga 1 British  
/ ˈdɒŋɡə /

noun

  1. a steep-sided gully created by soil erosion

"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

donga 2 British  
/ ˈdɒŋɡə /

noun

  1. (in Papua New Guinea) a house or shelter

"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

Etymology

Origin of donga

1875–80; < Nguni (compare Zulu u(lu)donga ); perhaps directly < a pidginized form with loss of the class prefix, as Fanagalo donga

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He hurled them across the donga, and they landed in the middle of the street, a few paces from the approaching policeman and his naked captive.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

It was perched unpretentiously on the edge of a donga, one of many similar shacks on Eighth Avenue.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

One night our dingy shack, which had been leaning precipitously on the edge of a donga, collapsed.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

We had not been off-saddled at the donga three-quarters of an hour before our pickets came in to say that the English were following us up.

From Through Shot and Flame The Adventures and Experiences of J. D. Kestell Chaplain to President Steyn and General Christian De Wet by Kestell, J. D. (John Daniel)

Never a bush or ant-heap, never a donga or a patch of reeds, did I pass for many days after that without the conviction that something was lurking there.

From Jock of the Bushveld by Fitzpatrick, Percy, Sir

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