‖ouderling, noun

/ˈəʊdə(r)ləŋ/
Plurals:
ouderlinge/ˈəʊdə(r)ləŋə/, and (formerly) ouderlingen.
Origin:
Afrikaans, South African Dutch, DutchShow more Afrikaans (plural -e, -s), earlier South African Dutch (plural -en) from Dutch
1. An elder of the Dutch Reformed Church.
1821 C.I. Latrobe Jrnl of Visit 503He is now required once a year to visit the families in their dwellings, in company of an ouderling or deacon.
[1877 F. Jeppe Tvl Bk Almanac & Dir. (1976) 38The Church is ruled by a general Church Meeting consisting of the clergy, the half of the serving Churchwardens (Dienst doende Ouderlingen) and two Deacons..from each congregation.]
1906 A.H. Watkins From Farm to Forum 34He holds the highly honoured and responsible position of an ‘ouderling’ or elder in the church at Hopetown.
[1921 H.J. Mandelbrote tr. of O.F. Mentzel’s Descr. of Cape of G.H. I. 124Before the sermon is delivered two elders (ouderlinge) step up to the pulpit with collection plates in their hands.]
1935 H.C. Bosman Mafeking Rd (1969) 74We had no predikant there; but an ouderling, with two bandoliers slung across his body, and a Martini in his hand, said a few words.
1949 L.G. Green In Land of Afternoon 143When he entered a new district he selected a man of standing, a leading farmer or ouderling of the church.
1957 L.G. Green Beyond City Lights 230He became an ouderling in the Dutch Reformed Church.
1958 A. Jackson Trader on Veld 34All the leading farmers were ouderlings (elders), who, on the Sabbath, clad in their ‘swart manel’..took their duties very seriously.
[1965 C. Van Heyningen Orange Days 30There were ‘ouderlinge en diakens’ to help him run the church, but he had to do all the christening and marrying and funeral services and often went visiting the sick and the bereaved.]
1972 Cape Times 8 Nov. 1He was unhappy about the whole thing. As chief ouderling, he was also in trouble with his church.
1980 A. Paton Towards Mountain 195Mr Laas was a devout member of this powerful church, and held the office of Ouderling, or ‘elder.’
1991 D. Beckett in Sunday Star 3 Feb. (Review) 5Dr Danie brought his bull mastiff, Bliksem, to his second wedding..and seated Bliksem in the best man’s pew, causing major upset among the ouderlinge — not so much because of the canine as because of the name.
1994 [see DRC].
2. Special Combination ouderlingpille /-pələ/ colloquial [Afrikaans, pille pills], peppermints.
1955 W. Illsley Wagon on Fire 64One cleared his throat noisily, the others sucked at their pipes or chewed tobacco or ‘ouderlingpille’ (the name given to peppermints, to which, it was alleged, the Church Elders were very partial, since they sweetened the breath after surreptitious drinks).
An elder of the Dutch Reformed Church.
Special Combination ouderlingpille, peppermints.
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ouboetie, nounn.ouderwetse, adjectiveadj.
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