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Kafir

[kaf-er, key-fer, kah-]
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noun, plural Kaf·irs, (especially collectively) Kaf·ir.
  1. Also called Nuristani. a member of an Indo-European people of Nuristan.
  2. (lowercase) Islam. an infidel or unbeliever.
  3. Kaffir(def 1).
  4. (lowercase) Also kaffir. Also called kafir corn. a grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor caffrorum, having stout, short-jointed, leafy stalks, introduced into the U.S. from southern Africa.
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Origin of Kafir

From Arabic, dating back to 1795–1805; see origin at Kaffir
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for kafir

Historical Examples

  • It had nothing whatever to do with the Kafir tribes who dwelt in the country.

    Impressions of South Africa

    James Bryce

  • Ucatella, with all a Kafir's love of fire-arms, clapped her hands with delight.

    A Simpleton

    Charles Reade

  • Now, Mafuta,” he continued, turning to the Kafir; “what about the lions?

  • At that very time they had a Kafir girl in training as a housemaid.

    Six Months at the Cape

    R.M. Ballantyne

  • The Kafir thief had driven them off in the direction of Somerset.

    Six Months at the Cape

    R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for kafir

Kafir

noun plural -irs or -ir
  1. another name for the Nuri
  2. a variant spelling of Kaffir
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Word Origin

C19: from Arabic; see Kaffir
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