| 释义 |
▪ I. brak, a. and n. S. Afr.|brak, bræk|
Also (rarely) brack.
[Afrikaans, = brackish.]
A. adj. Brackish; alkaline.
B. n. Brackishness; alkalinity; alkaline soil. Cf. brack a. and n.6
1793tr. Thunberg's Trav. II. xii, Brak-water is water stagnating in valleys and low places; it contains a kind of brine, and tastes more or less saltish. 1827G. Thompson Trav. & Adv. S. Afr. I. ii. iii. 447 We procured each of us a draught of very brack water. 1890A. Martin Home Life Ostrich Farm v. 82 The ground must be ‘brack’, a peculiar kind of soil which, though loose and friable, is not porous. This brack is often used to cover the flat roofs of the houses. Ibid. 94 It..gave me the first experience of a big rain—and of a brack roof. 1947Cape Times 13 Mar. 6/5 The reckless over-watering of some irrigated lands, leading to the development of brak. 1955L. G. Green Karoo xi. 133 The gannabos..flourishes in the brak soil. 1959Cape Argus 21 Nov. 1/3 Some cattle have died from drinking the brak water which always follows after protracted droughts.
C. Comb. brakbush, name of various salt-loving plants, esp. species of Atriplex, Salicornia and Salsola.
[1824W. J. Burchell Trav. II. i. 21 A shrubby species of Atriplex, probably the A. candicans. Yet the name of Brak-boschjes does not exclusively belong to this plant.] 1844J. Backhouse Narr. Visit S. Afr. 502 The best places for cattle in these deserts are those which are saline, and afford the scrubby Atriplex... These are termed ‘brak-places’ and such shrubs are called ‘Brak-bushes’. 1863J. S. Dobie S. Afr. Jrnl. 1 Sept. (1945) 122 He picked up some seed of brackbush (considered good for sheep).
▪ II. brak
obs. pa. tense of break; obs. f. brack, brake. |