Eastern Province, noun phrase

1. An informal name given to: a. The eastern districts of the Cape Colony. b. The eastern districts of the Cape Province (from 1910). c. The western part of the Eastern Cape Province (from 1994). See also EP.
Note:
During the 19th century there was a determined but unsuccessful attempt to separate the Eastern Province from the western part of the Cape Colony (the seat of government).
1832 Graham’s Town Jrnl 9 Mar. 42Double the number of years may probably elapse before one farthing of ‘our’ contributions in taxes can be applied for the general benefit of the Eastern Province.
1843 J.C. Chase Cape of G.H. 31The Eastern Province of the colony of the Cape of Good Hope comprises the divisions or counties of — 1. Albany; 2. Utenhay; 3. Somerset; 4. Cradock; 5. Graf Reinet; 6. Colesberg.
1843 J.C. Chase Cape of G.H. 95The Eastern Province..is totally unrepresented in these [legislative and executive] councils, not a single member being returned by or connected with the frontier and country districts.
1877 J. Noble S. Afr. 253Another subject which..agitated the public mind was, that of separation, or local self-government for the Eastern province. [Source Note: It became habitual to talk of the Eastern Province, although except for the Election of Members for the Legislative Council, according to the Constitution Ordinance, no such designation occurred in any other legal enactment.]
1893 H.B. Sidwell Story of S. Afr. 108It was the old often-repeated story of savage cruelty, of blazing homesteads and wasted lands,..of ruined lives and broken hearts, with which the Eastern Province is so sadly familiar.
1994 Eastern Province Herald (title).
2. The name given to the provincial sports teams representing this area; EP.
1897 G.A. Parker S. Afr. Sports 63The competing [rugby] teams were: Western Province (holders), Transvaal, Griqualand West, Eastern Province, Border, and Natal.
1990 Weekend Post 23 June 20Eastern Province overran Free State..in Bloemfontein on Saturday...EP’s win puts the coastal men back into the hunt for the coveted gold cup while the ‘Blikore’ are surely now also rans.
The eastern districts of the Cape Colony.
The eastern districts of the Cape Province (from 1910).
The western part of the Eastern Cape Province (from 1994).
The name given to the provincial sports teams representing this area; EP.
Derivatives:
Hence (nonce) Eastern Provincial  noun phrase, an inhabitant of the Eastern Province.
1955 V.M. Fitzroy Dark Bright Land 98Lord Charles Somerset scoffed at it (sc. the Donkin pyramid), but here at least he could not interfere, and it remained. Eastern Provincials have an affection for its very ungainliness.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18321994

Derivatives

Eastern Provincial

Browse Related Words

By Category

Place and Region Names
Sport and Leisure

By Usage

rare or nonce
East Coast Fever, noun phrasen. phr.eat, verb transitivev.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English