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Green’s Dictionary of Slang

hairy n.³

also hairyback

[a hairy back is seen as an image of animality]

(S.Afr.) an Afrikaner; also as adj.

1970		Cape Times 16 May n.p.: There should be a match arranged between the Springboks and an Invitation side from the hairiest hairy-back elements of the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch [DSAE].
1981		Sun. Times (Jo’burg) 15 Mar. 21: Would you like to be an Afrikaner and be plastered with ‘Hairy back’, ‘Rock spider’, ‘Skaaps’, ‘Narro’, or be English and be plastered with ‘Rooiner’ and ‘Kaffer-boetie’? [DSAE].
1990		R. Malan My Traitor’s Heart (1991) 63: The South African Defence Force was run by mean hairybacks who toughened you up to keep blacks down.
1990		J.G. Davis Land God Made in Anger 249: ‘No wonder you haven’t much time for the South African government.’ ‘Goddam Hairybacks.’.
2005		A. Lovejoy Acid Alex 17: The same kid taught me [...] all the words for Rockspiders – Crunchies, Hairybacks, Clutchplates, Planks, Ropes, Boneheads, Dutchmen – Afrikaners-vrot-bananas.
2008		Mail and Guardian (Johannesburg) 14 Nov. 🌐 John Rupert made a speech at Potch University calling himself a ‘Dutchman’ and ‘Hairyback’ in obvious jocular reference.