A person of Dutch or Afrikaans descent living in South Africa, particularly a farmer.
From Dutch 'boer,' meaning 'farmer' or 'peasant.' Dutch settlers brought the word when they colonized South Africa in the 1600s, and it became specifically associated with those communities.
The Boer Wars (1880-1902) were pivotal in South African history and introduced the world to the tactics of guerrilla warfare. The word itself is neutral—just 'farmer'—but it became laden with historical and political significance.
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