vlei

/ vleɪ; fleɪ /

noun

1. an area of low marshy ground, esp one that feeds a stream
2. dialect.
   a marsh

Word History and Origins

Origin of vlei¹

C19: from Afrikaans (for sense 1); from obsolete N American Dutch dialect (for sense 2): valley

Example Sentences

“Where do you think the vlei people are now? In a nasty hospital where they can’t get fresh air or work how they please. They get drugs pumped into them to keep them quiet. They're never going to work in a bank or teach a class at the University.”

From Literature

For a moment it was like being carried across Dead Man’s Vlei, but this time he wasn’t in a bag.

From Literature

The ground in Dead Man’s Vlei was gray and sickly.

From Literature

“We know what happened to your business in Dead Man’s Vlei. The police were there! They closed up your little shebeen and took your slaves away. You have no business, She Elephant.”

From Literature

Then he, too, saw that the man was staring at the Masks in openmouthed delight, just as he had watched the soccer matches on Dead Man’s Vlei.

From Literature