noun
bushman
BUSH-mun/ˈbʊʃmən/
An often offensive term for a San person of southern Africa.
The exhibit explains why Bushman can be an offensive label.
Etymology
Bush came to mean uncleared country, which helps explain the wilderness association. However, the supplied history of Bushman concerns a particular southern African people and does not establish the history of this general sense.
In context
the epitome of the bushman
More examples
- The old book used Bushmen for San communities in southern Africa.
- She replaced Bushman with the community's preferred name in her article.
- The guide discussed the colonial history of the term Bushman.
Forms
bushman · bushmen
Similar words
- San
- A widely used collective term, though individual communities may prefer their own names.