rooilaventel, noun

/ˌrɔɪləˈfent(ə)l//ˌrɔɪlaˈfent(ə)l/
Forms:
roode lavendel, rooi laventalShow more Also roode lavendel, rooi lavental, rooi leventel, and with initial capital(s).
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, rooi (earlier roode) red + laventel lavender.
Tincture of lavender, a patent medicine; laventel. See also (old) Dutch medicine (Dutch adjective sense 2).
1884 B.G. Lennon & Co.’s Catal. 1884 65Roode Lavendel, doz. 5s.0d.
1919 Dunell, Ebden & Co.’s Price List Oct. 20Roode Lavendel 2/6.
1929 J.G. Van Alphen Jan Venter 6Particular Dutch patent medicines...There was Wit Dulcies for indigestion, Rooi Laventel for fainting and headaches.
1958 A. Jackson Trader on Veld 30To mention just a few of the favourites: Versterkde Druppels, Roode Lavendel, [etc.].
1959 L. Longmore Dispossessed 157Some educated mothers do not have faith in these doctors and use Afrikaans druppels to protect the baby, who is..bathed in warm water containing drops of rooi laventel and entrance druppels which are considered to keep the baby strong and protect it from all dangers.
1972 N. Sapeika in Std Encycl. of Sn Afr. VII. 302Rooilaventel (compound tincture of lavender).
1974 Y. Burgess in S. Gray On Edge of World 23She kept among other remedies, the groenamare for her cramps,..and the rooi laventel for her heart.
1975 W. Steenkamp Land of Thirst King 138For many years the only formal medical help the average farmer possessed was what he called his ‘apteek’, or pharmacy, which consisted of a fitted tin trunk containing such time-honoured specifics as Hoffmann’s Drops, a cough remedy known as ‘Borstdruppels’ (chest drops),..‘Rooi Laventel’ (lavender drops).
1988 D. Samuelson in Fair Lady 16 Mar. 125Back in the kitchen, the child dutifully drank the glass of rooi lavental mixed by her grandmother.
1990 You 18 Oct. 34The entire, natural GR Dutch Medicine range. The tried and tested Cape Dutch remedies like Jamaica Ginger, Rooi Lavental and Essence of life.
Tincture of lavender, a patent medicine; laventel.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18841990

Browse Related Words

By Category

Remedies

By Origin

Afrikaans
rooikrans, nounn.rooiman, nounn.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English