dwaal, noun

/dwɑːl/
Origin:
Afrikaans.
colloquial
a. In the adv. phr. in a dwaal [Afrikaans in ’n dwaal in a daze], dazed, absent-minded, distracted.
1963 K. Mackenzie Dragon to Kill 51He had an expression of vague surprise and annoyance as he picked his way through the Africans. In a dwaal, as usual, thought Tony.
1964 M.G. McCoy Informant, Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha), Eastern CapeWhen I got up at 6 a.m. on Monday morning I was standing in the kitchen in a bleary sort of dwaal.
1969 A. Fugard Boesman & Lena 6The roads are crooked enough without you also being in a dwaal.
1974 in Eng. Usage in Sn Afr. Vol.5 No.1, 15‘She’s in a dwaal.’ She is in a dreamlike state, distrait.
1978 Sunday Times 23 Apr. 18Vaal in a dwaal...Western Province thrashed the much-vaunted, new super-Vaalers 25–10.
1985 P. Slabolepszy Sat. Night at Palace 15Yassas — Carstens!! Wake up, man. You in a real dwaal tonight.
1985 H. Prendini in Style Oct. 39Jislaaik ou pellie! You nearly came short with that bakkie! You’re in a dwaal.
1992 C. Scott on TV1, 30 Dec. (Good Morning South Africa)I was standing there in a kind of a dwaal, thinking about next week’s lines.
‖b. See quotation.
1970 A. Fugard Notebks (1983) 185Boesman and Lena load up their bundles and walk — suggestion of the ‘dwaal’ (confused wandering) in the back streets after the demolition — round and round the stage.
In the adv. phr. in a dwaal, dazed, absent-minded, distracted.
See quotation.
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19631992
dux, nounn.dwaal, verb intransitivev.
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