Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (Irish) an ignorant but provocative individual.

1986

(con. 1930s) P. O’Farrell Tell me, Sean O’Farrell 59: A likeable terr (provocative man) in spite of all, he was killed when a lean-to where he slept [...] collapsed on him.

2. (S.Afr.) a terrorist.

1977		Times 10 Nov. 16: Two years ago my fellow reservists were just interested in killing terrs.
1979		National Rev. 30 Mar. 416: We have to drive very slowly on dirt roads so that we can watch out for land mines, which the ters [short for terrorists — the Rhodesians’ term for the guerillas] love planting.
1990		P. Hotz Muzukuru 3: Troops could be trucked in quickly if the terrs ever tried to invade again.
2007		Binda & Staff Saints 70: Then calling the OC by radio, in a whisper, he gave his sitrep (situation report) that there were approximately five terrs about 30 metres ahead of him.

3. a tourist, esp. from Transvaal.

1978

Sun. Times (Johannesburg) 9 Apr. 1: Seen any terrs lately? Not the abandoned-parcel-time-bomb types, but the Lowyveld [...] inhabitants who desecrate the Kruger Park.