agterhuis, noun

/ˈaxtə(r)heɪs//ˈaxtə(r)hœɪs/
Forms:
Formerly also achterhuis.
Plurals:
agterhuise/ˈaxtə(r)heɪsə/.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, agter rear, behind + huis house.
Architecture
agterkamer. Cf. voorhuis.
1926 P.W. Laidler Tavern of Ocean 79Straight ahead through the voorkamer was the achterhuis or back room, with once again one or more chambers on either side.
1952 G.M. Mills First Ladies of Cape 42Approached through the front door was the voorkamer or front room, on either side of which were sleeping apartments. Beyond the voorkamer was the achterhuis or back room.
1963 R. Lewcock Early 19th C. Archit. 7A central front door, often under an ornamental gable, gave access to a ‘voorkamer’ or front room...Behind the ‘voorkamer’, and often separated from it by only a screen, was the ‘achterhuis’, or back room.
1977 S. Afr. Panorama Aug. 32The magnificent teak and yellowwood screen dividing the agterhuis (backroom) from the voorkamer (front part of the large central room) was still in fine condition.
1991 Best of S. Afr. Short Stories (Reader’s Digest Assoc.) 147In early Cape-Dutch designs, the front door..opened directly into a large room called the voorhuis or voorkamer (front room). A wooden screen provided privacy in the rear part of the room which became known as the agterkamer (back room) or the achterhuis.
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19261991

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Afrikaans
agtdaegeneesbos, nounn.agterkamer, nounn.
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