Mzansi Taal
Skaftin
Noun
1. lunch box, container in which you carry a packed meal.
I forgot my skaftin at home today.
2. A person that you have casual relations with every now and again, similar to side plate.
Alternative spelling:
- Scaftin/Scafthin
- Skafthin/Skhafthin
- Skafthina/Skhaftina
Hi in Soweto, the word scaftin is not limited to lunch box. In addition, the township boys use the word to refer to the 10-seater car, like a husky (Mitsubishi/Ford), These cars were dominated the Soweto local taxi industry in the mid 80′ to earlier 90s. This is because of its shape, more like a lunch box shape.
Skaf = food in Fanagalo. Tin = is tin like in container. Literally a container for food. In Afrikaans it will translate to kosblik.
Police
Could #Skhaftin perhaps derive from the Dutch verb schaften: to pause, rest, to take a break, especially so as to eat.?
Hi Tanja
Thanks for informing us about the history of the word.
As I have it it originated on the mines when #Skof 10 came in after the ninth shift. They always brought food along as it was a lunchtime shift change. Shift 10 or skofftien brought a lunchbox. The skuftin of today.
Hi Tanja.. Thanks for sharing that information.. I would like to use it in a project I am busy with.. Is it possible for me to contact you to explain
LOVE it!!!! I always knew and used the word fairly correct, but didn’t know the full origin. I have a tin-box used by the miners way back which is also called a skaftin.
Does “skaftin” refer to the lunch box only, or maybe to the content as well, and collectively to all?
Hi Ferdi
The usage of the word by the public refers to the container that one takes with them usual to school, work or various other.
The contents inside differ from person to person depending on the users preferred diet.
Hi Tanja.. Thanks for sharing that information.. I would like to use it in a project I am busy with.. Is it possible for me to contact you to explain