mashonisa, noun
- Forms:
- Also machonisa.
- Origin:
- IsiZuluShow more Probably isiZulu, ma- (see ma- prefix3) + shonisa, causative form of shona lose heavily, become bankrupt (see quotation 1982).
slang
In urban (especially township) parlance: a money-lender.
1979 M. Matshoba Call Me Not a Man 12What I’ll do tomorrow is to go and borrow the ten rand from the mashonisa where I work.
1987 Pace Sept. 13This incredible machonisa (money lender) affectionately known as Mr Money..near Tzaneen..never writes down who owes what and when it must be paid.
a money-lender.
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