cocopan, noun

Forms:
Also kokopan.
Origin:
IsiZuluShow more Adaptation of isiZulu i-ngqukumbana, i-ngqukumbane literally ‘stumpy wagon’.
A small v-shaped tip-truck, usually on rails, used especially in mines for transporting ore. Also attributive.
1914 Minutes of Proceedings of S. Afr. Soc. of Civil Engin.The pick, shovel, wheelbarrow and coco pan suited to the low-waged native labourer.
1937 H. Klein Stage Coach Dust 107Various duties were assigned to the gangs; some loaded the pulverized blue ground into trucks for transporting to the washing machines. Others tipped ‘cocopans’ (little half-ton trucks) containing the ‘maiden blue’ just out of the mines.
1949 H.C. Bosman Cold Stone Jug (1969) 83We moved thousands of tons of earth and stone by wheel-barrow and by hand and by coco-pan.
1951 G. Van Delden I Have a Plan 102Several kokopans, such as are used for transporting sugar-cane.
1967 W.A. De Klerk White Wines 59Above cement fermentation pits stood a formidable line of cocopan-like receptacles, compartmented, so as to receive the fresh must.
1968 Farmer’s Weekly 3 Jan. 93 (advt)Railway fencing poles. Made from used railway and cocopan rails.
1977 F.G. Butler Karoo Morning 65The loose stones, previously blasted from the rock face, were loaded by big black men into coco pans, and pushed on little railway lines to a ramp, where they were tipped, and stacked.
1982 M. Dikobe in Voice 20 June 10The dancers swayed from side to side like mealie stalks...Martha moved like a cocopan full of minesand turning at an intersection.
1990 M. Espin in Staffrider Vol.9 No.1, 70The cocopans roll along the rails pushed by men with wet bandannas on their heads.
A small v-shaped tip-truck, usually on rails, used especially in mines for transporting ore. Also attributive.
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19141990