hottentot's bread: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / ArchaicHistorical, Botanical, Ethnographic, Possibly Offensive
Quick answer
What does “hottentot's bread” mean?
The edible underground stem or tuber of certain southern African plants, primarily of the genus Dioscorea.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The edible underground stem or tuber of certain southern African plants, primarily of the genus Dioscorea.
A historical or botanical term for a starchy, potato-like food source foraged by the Khoekhoe people in Southern Africa; sometimes refers specifically to the elephant's foot plant (Testudinaria elephantipes).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage; the term is equally archaic and specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries strong historical/colonial and potentially offensive connotations in both regions due to the ethnonym.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use in both BrE and AmE, found almost exclusively in historical texts or specialized botanical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “hottentot's bread” in a Sentence
[Plant/Guide] describes Hottentot's bread[Explorers] relied on Hottentot's bread[The tuber] is called Hottentot's breadVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used cautiously with critical framing in historical, anthropological, or botanical papers discussing colonial-era plant use.
Everyday
Not used; would be considered obscure and potentially offensive.
Technical
Used rarely in historical botany or ethnobotany, often in quotation marks or with a disclaimer.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hottentot's bread”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hottentot's bread”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hottentot's bread”
- Using it in modern contexts without historical qualification.
- Misspelling as 'Hottentot bread' (though this is a common variant).
- Pronouncing 'Hottentot' without the silent 'h' in the second syllable (/ˈhɒt.ən.tɒt/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a starchy tuber or caudex from a plant, historically used as a staple food source, similar to a potato or yam. The word 'bread' is used in an archaic sense meaning 'staple food'.
It is not recommended. Modern guides should use the scientific name (Dioscorea elephantipes) or the non-offensive common name 'elephant's foot' or 'tortoise plant'.
'Hottentot' is an archaic and pejorative European exonym for the Khoekhoe people of South Africa and Namibia. The term is considered offensive and should be avoided; 'Khoekhoe' is the appropriate name.
It is not a common food source today. The plant (Dioscorea elephantipes) is now primarily grown as a curious ornamental succulent or caudiciform plant by collectors.
The edible underground stem or tuber of certain southern African plants, primarily of the genus Dioscorea.
Hottentot's bread is usually historical, botanical, ethnographic, possibly offensive in register.
Hottentot's bread: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɒt.ən.tɒts ˈbrɛd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɑː.t̬ən.tɑːts ˈbrɛd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The term is purely referential.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a historical travel book describing how 'HOTtenTOTs' ate BREAD-like tubers from a strange, bulbous plant.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD SOURCE IS BREAD (using 'bread' metonymically for a staple food).
Practice
Quiz
Why is the term 'Hottentot's bread' problematic in modern usage?