basela, noun

/baˈse(ː)la//baˈse(ː)lə/
Forms:
barcelia, barcellaShow more Also barcelia, barcella, barsaala, barseela, basala, baseila, basella, bassella, bazella, bazello, bhasela, pasela, pasella, passela, and with initial capital.
Plurals:
unchanged.
Origin:
IsiXhosa, isiZuluShow more Probably from isiXhosa bhasela, isiZulu basela, see basela verb.
Note:
There is no firm evidence to support the theory that these words were derived from English parcel, or from Dutch baas master, giving rise to Xhosa ndibhasele ‘behave to me like a baas’. The form with initial p is from Afrikaans.
1.
a. bonsella sense 1 b.
1825 T. Philipps Philipps, 1820 Settler (1960) 238There were several other minor chiefs..they are great beggars and end every visit with Barcelia, Barcelia (presents).
1829 C. Rose Four Yrs in Sn Afr. 88I sat with them, wrapped in my horseman’s cloak..the Chief..offered me two horses or three oxen for it; and finding that his offers made no impression requested it as a ‘Barseela’.
1833 S. Kay Trav. & Researches 285While riding past Hinza’s residence today a number of young girls came running out of the different huts, crying, Basala, basala, ‘A present, a present.’
1835 J.W.D. Moodie Ten Yrs in S. Afr. II. 250A number of women and children..followed us for several hundred yards entreating us with their most winning graces for ‘basella,’ or presents.
1835 A. Steedman Wanderings I. 17A wandering band of Caffers..surrounded us with very menacing applications for a barsaala.
1844 J. Backhouse Narr. of Visit 240We were frequently met by Caffers who come running down the hills..calling out, ‘Bassella,’ which signifies A present.
1852 H. Ward Jasper LyleThey..held out two pairs of hands, uttering the old imperative demand peculiar to Kafirs, ‘Baseila,’ — ‘Gift.’
b. bonsella sense 1 a.
1835 A. Steedman Wanderings I. 17Galeyka, an old chief,..pressed us to remain with him during the night, in expectation, no doubt, of receiving a handsome barsaala.
1836 A.F. Gardiner Journey to Zoolu Country 238Procured some very indifferent amas, for which however a bazella (present) was asked.
1912 W. Westrup Land of To-Morrow 127I heard an old girl ask you to stick on an extra tickey as a pasella.
1963 A.M. Louw 20 Days 97He handed the papers back to Twelve, who received them in his two cupped hands as he would a basella, but with an expression of bewilderment on his face.
1974 A.P. Brink Looking on Darkness 54They gave me some pasella fo’ good behaviour en’ so I got out befo’ my year was out.
2. figurative. bonsella sense 2.
1900 Grocott’s Penny Mail 2 July 3The commando..being..thrown in with ‘Slim Piet’s’ successor and Snyman as a sort of ‘basella’.
1991 S. Afr. Panorama May–June 45Outa’s schooling went only as far as standard two and a half — the half was a ‘pasella’ from the school-master from being such a bright pupil, he chuckles.
3. bonsella sense 3.
1905 E. London Dispatch 1 Apr.I happened to enter our local stamp shop the other day, just in time to hear a native demanding a ‘basela’ on a penny stamp he had purchased.
1912 W. Westrup Land of To-Morrow 127The old dame accepted her flannelette, and a few sweets as the inevitable pasella and went on her way rejoicing.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 48Basela,..and the word Bansela..are practically synonymous..though this word seems to be more frequently applied to a something thrown in after a purchase has been made.
1920 S. Black Dorp 46The coloured customers would still prefer Mahomet..his ‘pasellas’, his compliments, his sympathy.
1955 Report of Commission for Socio-Economic Dev. of Bantu Areas (UG61–1955) 91The habit of giving a ‘pasela’..is on the wane.
1979 F. Dike First S. African 4Also, I’ve got this pyramid handkerchief..here, your bhasela for buying this jacket.
Derivatives:
Hence basela  adverb, ‘for free’, gratuitously; bonsella, see bonsella. Cf. mahala adverb.
1925 E. Prov. Herald 19 Sept. 9Accused asked her if she wanted some oranges. Witness said ‘Yes, if you give me one “basella”’.
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18251991

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basela, adv.

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