merrem, noun
/ˈmerəm/
- Forms:
- Also mêrrem, and with initial capital.
- Origin:
- Pronunciation-spelling of madam, reflecting especially the accent of working-class ‘Coloured’ people.
1. A common noun: madam sense 2.
1966 Van Heyningen & Berthoud Uys Krige 122The exact tone and accent of the vendor’s ‘Capey’ Afrikaans, the tone of his relationship with the white ‘Merrem,’ with the Colored servants.
1986 D. Case Love, David 11‘You’ve been listening to too much of your merrem’s talk again,’ Dadda says irritably.
2. A term of address.
a. madam sense 1 a.
1979 Sunday Times 15 July (Mag. Sect.) 5Here Mêrrem, up to my tits in the ice-cold water to collect these flowers and the Mêrrem complains about the quality.
1993 C. Eden in Food & Home Aug. 138‘Come merrem, take the box.’ If merrem still holds out, Pantie rolls his eyes and sighs. ‘OK, merrem, I give you a bargain. Half a box.’
3. madam sense 3.
1993 C. Eden in Food & Home Aug. 138He loads 10 into a packet, names a sum a little more than half the original price, and hands them to merrem with such urgency that she can’t possibly refuse the transaction.
1993 C. Eden in Food & Home Aug. 138 [see sense 2 a].
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