impi

Etymology

From Zulu impi.

Noun

impi (plural impis)

1. A group of Zulu (or other Bantu) warriors; a detachment of armed men.
   • 1978, André Brink, Rumours of Rain, Vintage 2000, p. 212:

     And in the end he, as well as three of his four children, shared Retief's fate in the massacre of Trekkers by the Zulu impis of Dingane.

   • 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus 2010, p. 26:

     But as grizzled as Chief Joyi often seemed, the decades fell off him when he spoke of the impis, or warriors, in the army of King Ngangelizwe.

Anagrams

• MIPI

Noun

impi

1. fire

Noun

impi

1. (dated) virgin

Verb

impi (used in the form bermimpi)

1. to dream

Etymology

Cognate with mimpi, from Proto-Malayic *impi, *mimpi, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hipi, from Proto-Austronesian *Səpi.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /impi/
• Rhymes: -impi, -pi, -i

Verb

impi (used in the form mengimpi)

1. to dream (to hope, to wish)

Noun

impi^? class 9 (plural izimpi class 10)

1. army, regiment

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /îːmpí/

Noun

împí class 9 (plural ízimpí class 10)

1. war, battle
2. army, regiment

References

• C. M. Doke; B. W. Vilakazi (1972), “-mpi”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “-mpi (2-8.3)”