Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A dressed animal skin, or several skins sewed together, used in southern Africa as a cloak, rug, or blanket.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A garment of fur worn by the natives of South Africa. Also spelled carosse.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun South Africa A native garment or rug of skin sewed together in the form of a square.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A treated animal-skin cloak with the hair still left on.
  • noun A blanket of treated animal-skin with the hair left on.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Afrikaans karos, from obsolete Khoikhoi : possibly originally a diminutive of a Khoikhoi word for skin and containing elements corresponding to modern Nama khòő-b, skin + -rò-, diminutive suff. + -s, feminine sing. n. suff.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Khoisan (k)caros: a skin blanket, through Afrikaans. (Disputed see talk page.)

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Examples

  • The only things of value which he had taken with him were a set of pearl ear-rings and brooch, and a beautiful lined "kaross," or rug, made of the skins of wild South African animals.

    The Petticoat Commando Boer Women in Secret Service Johanna Brandt 1920

  • Over his saddle lay a "kaross," or robe of leopard-skins, and upon his shoulder he carried his "roer" -- a large smoothbore gun, about six feet in length, with an old-fashioned flint-lock, -- quite a load of itself.

    The Bush Boys History and Adventures of a Cape Farmer and his Family Mayne Reid 1850

  • a "kaross," or robe of leopard-skins, and upon his shoulder he carried his "roer" -- a large smooth-bore gun, about six feet in length, with an old-fashioned flint-lock, -- quite a load of itself.

    Popular Adventure Tales Mayne Reid 1850

  • Suddenly, the door opened and out walked not Dr. Wellington, but a black man dressed in a leopard-skin kaross and matching hat, who was carrying a spear in either hand.

    BARGAINING WITH THE DEVIL ROBERT MNOOKIN 2010

  • Suddenly, the door opened and out walked not Dr. Wellington, but a black man dressed in a leopard-skin kaross and matching hat, who was carrying a spear in either hand.

    BARGAINING WITH THE DEVIL ROBERT MNOOKIN 2010

  • Suddenly, the door opened and out walked not Dr. Wellington, but a black man dressed in a leopard-skin kaross and matching hat, who was carrying a spear in either hand.

    BARGAINING WITH THE DEVIL ROBERT MNOOKIN 2010

  • Suddenly, the door opened and out walked not Dr. Wellington, but a black man dressed in a leopard-skin kaross and matching hat, who was carrying a spear in either hand.

    BARGAINING WITH THE DEVIL ROBERT MNOOKIN 2010

  • A long white beard fell on his breast, and a magnificent kaross of leopard skin covered his shoulders.

    Prester John 2005

  • I unlocked the cupboard and got out a few stores, opened the windows of the bedroom next door, and flung my kaross on the cartel which did duty as bed.

    Prester John 2005

  • The ancient costume of the Makololo consisted of the skin of a lamb, kid, jackal, ocelot, or other small animal, worn round and below the loins: and in cold weather a kaross, or skin mantle, was thrown over the shoulders.

    A Popular Account of Dr. Livingstone's Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries 2004

Comments

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  • My grandmother used a Holstein calf-skin kaross as a cover for her piano bench.

    June 29, 2011