voorspan, noun

Forms:
Also vorspann.
Origin:
South African Dutch, DutchShow more South African Dutch, from Dutch voor fore, front + span team.
obs.
A fresh team of draught-animals supplied by farmers free of charge, as required, to those travelling on government service. Also attributive.
1801 J. Barrow Trav. I. 358For the better convenience of those who travelled on the public service, government imposed a kind of tax on the farmers, by obliging them to furnish Voorspans, or gratuitous teams of oxen, whenever they should be demanded.
1812 A. Plumptre tr. of H. Lichtenstein’s Trav. in Sn Afr. (1928) I. 222Amid a pouring and continued rain we pursued our way till we arrived at the above-mentioned farm, where we met the Field-cornet Ignatius Müller, with a new vorspann.
1821 C.I. Latrobe Jrnl of Visit 270He made an apology, by explaining how he was continually harrassed by orders for Vorspann, caring for the transport of the military and their baggage, and put to the inconvenience of sending his men up and down the country.
1822 W.J. Burchell Trav. I. 183This gentleman anticipated my wants, by proposing, as the passage of the Hex-river Kloof, and the ascent of the Roggeveld mountain would greatly exhaust the strength of my own oxen, that he might issue orders for a voor-span (relay of oxen) to meet me at those places.
1822 W.J. Burchell Trav. I. 200A boor, who had received orders to furnish the next voorspans, sent in the morning to enquire when they would be wanted.
1847 J. Barrow Autobiog. Memoir 202I shall start forthwith, with your permission, and avail myself of the privilege of taking voorspan oxen or cattle, supplied by the farmers, from station to station, for the service of Government free from charge.
A fresh team of draught-animals supplied by farmers free of charge, as required, to those travelling on government service. Also attributive.
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18011847

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voorslag, nounn.voorstel, nounn.
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