Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(S.Afr.) a derog. term of address to an Indian or Coloured person.

1954		K. Cowin Bushveld, Bananas and Bounty 174: Boesman had made enough progress to justify a rise in wages.
1959		J.M. Meiring Candle in the Wind 40: Do you think I want all the people [...] laughing in my face, for letting that little Boesman-meid get hold of him?
1961		D. Bee Children of Yesterday 72: An ugly scene developed and the Native made the mistake of calling William a Boesman to his face. [Ibid.] 121: You, Boesman! You are going to die!
1973		M. Dikobe Marabi Dance 68: He was registered as a ‘native’. ‘Kaffir-boesman, the Polisie sal jou nooit pas vra nie!’ ‘Kaffir-bushman, the police will never ask you for a pass.’.
1986		L. Nkosi Mating Birds 92: ‘Coolies! Kaffirs! Boesmans!’ She shot out a stream of brown saliva at her feet. ‘They’re all the same! Sharks.’.
1989		C.J. Fourie Big Boys in Kani (1994) 117: It’s got fuck all to do with you, boesman!
2006		C. Miller Salt and Honey 128: Kaffirs don’t like Boesmanne; Boesmanne are frightened of Kaffirs. Boesmanne and Kaffirs don’t like Boers.
2009		Mail & Guardian (Johannesburg) 9 Aug. 🌐 What caused the beefcake bust-up was a word. A few of them [...] Like hot-not and boesman.