china, noun

Origin:
From Cockney rhyming slang china plate mate.
colloquial
Often in the phrase my china. ‘Mate’, ‘pal’, ‘friend’, ‘buddy’: used as an informal or familiar term of address.
Note:
Also British English.
1972 M. Develin on Radio South Africa 25 Jan.Like my china’s my gé (a friend in need is a friend indeed).
1974 B. Simon Joburg, Sis! 146Anyway, he hooks up with me and won’t let me go, says I’m his boet, his china, his all-time mate.
1985 H. Prendini in Style Oct. 39The ou starts gaaning aan. I say ‘What’s your case? Don’t aikona me, my china. Don’t tune me grief.’
1988 Lampert & Fourie in You 21 Jan. 102Howzit my china! Lekker surprise, hey?
1999 ‘Tonedeaf’ in Cape Times 12 Mar. (Top of the Times) 22Freddy, my china, I’ll see you there at Vortex’s Easter weekend jol.
2023 dailymaverick.co.za 30 Jan.Howzit, my China? Unjani, mfowethu?
Often in the phrase my china.‘Mate’, ‘pal’, ‘friend’, ‘buddy’: used as an informal or familiar term of address.
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colloquial
chilli-bite, nounn.chincherinchee, nounn.
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