Handlanger

From Fresh Dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.3 Reference 2 Dutch 2.1 Noun

English

Etymology

From Dutch handlanger "assistant", "helper".

Noun

handlanger

1. (South African) An unskilled assistant to an artisan.
   • 1976 Het Suid Western "...building himself brick by brick, with his wife as his only handlanger".
   • 2005 The SABC launches a new reality show: The Handlanger. The series will follow a group of aspirant gophers as they compete to become the handlanger of fertilizer tycoon Danie Tromp, writes Not the M&G television watcher.

http://www.chico.mweb.co.za/art/2005/2005jan/050107-not-the-tv-2.html

Reference

1978: A Dictionary of South African English edited by Jean Branford. Oxford.

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Dutch

Noun

handlanger m.

1. accomplice
2. assistant; helper