Matabele

[ mat-uh-bee-lee ]

noun

, plural Mat·a·be·les, (especially collectively) Mat·a·be·le.

1. Ndebele ( def 1 ).

Matabele

/ ˌmætəˈbiːlɪ; -ˈbɛlɪ /

noun

1. -les-le a member of a formerly warlike people of southern Africa, now living in Zimbabwe: driven out of the Transvaal by the Boers in 1837 Now known asNdebele
2. the language of this people, belonging to the Bantu group of the Niger-Congo family

Word History and Origins

Origin of Matabele¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

As they advanced they saw evidences on every hand of the terrible Mantatees, and the still more terrible Matabele.

From Project Gutenberg

After much persuasion, permission was given him to preach the Gospel to the Matabele people, a privilege hitherto always denied.

From Project Gutenberg

At Sechele's town the two portions of this latter division were united, and thence they journeyed onwards towards the Matabele.

From Project Gutenberg

He has lived, he tells me, eighteen years in South Africa and fought for us against the Matabele.

From Project Gutenberg

In the fort they showed with pride some half a dozen Matabele prisoners they had captured in a fight.

From Project Gutenberg