becreep, verb transitive

Forms:
becrep, becroupShow more Also becrep, becroup, bekruyp, bekryp.
Origin:
DutchShow more Calque formed on Dutch bekruipen, prefix be- near, next to + kruipen to creep. From the spellings becroup, bekruyp, and bekryp it is clear that this word was sometimes borrowed directly from the Dutch and sometimes Englished to becreep.
obs.
To stalk, creep up on (someone or something).
Derivatives:
So becreeper  noun, stalker.
1796 E. Helme tr. of F. Le Vaillant’s Trav. into Int. I. 255 (Pettman)The Boshmen are generally considered as the best bekrypers.
1838 J.E. Alexander Exped. into Int. II. 8The watchful monster did not charge as we expected, being young, and made off before we had time to becreep it.
a1858 J. Goldswain Chron. (1946) I. 118My gun in her hand readey to give it to me in cace aney Kaffer or Kaffers should trie to becrep us.
1860 A.W. Drayson Sporting Scenes 75Elephants would catch me; tigers (i.e. leopards) becroup (i.e. stalk) me; snakes bite me.
a1875 T. Baines Jrnl of Res. (1964) II. 155Andries, arriving soon after, told us our shots had frightened away the ostrich he was ‘bekruyping’.
a1875 T. Baines Jrnl of Res. (1964) II. 160Andries and John were out from dawn till after sunset, and becrept and shot two wildebeestes.
To stalk, creep up on (someone or something).
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17961875

Derivatives

becreeper
Bechuana, nounn.becreeping, verbal nounvbl n.
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