‖spoorweg, noun

/ˈspuə(r)vɛx/
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, spoor track + weg way.
The railway system; SAR noun2 sense b. Also attributive.
1881 F.R. Statham Blacks, Boers & Brit. 68Truly the ‘spoorweg’ is a great institution.
1920 F.C. Cornell Glamour of Prospecting 66The advent of a rare stranger — especially if he looked a townsman and an ‘Engelsman’ — usually gave raise to some faint hope that at length the spoorweg (railway) was coming, or roads were to be made, or a mine opened, or some kind of Gouvermentse werk to be started to benefit the country at long last.
1987 O. Musi in Drum May 47Not so long ago when reporters used to use public transport..the prudent ones among us would buy season tickets for the spoorweg.
1987 D. Von Tonder in New Nation 22 Oct. 17Hannetjie, who has a ‘spoorweg mentality’, is at the centre of these poems, which depict a smug acceptance of the South African situation.
1990 City Press 11 Feb. 8He..adds that the spoorweg, too, will be off-track adding that in these essential services they enjoy many supporters. So if you don’t hear trains trundling around that day..know that the call has gone out to Die Volk.
The railway system; SAR noun2 sense b. Also attributive.
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Afrikaans
spoor, verbv.sporrie, nounn.
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