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KAHLAMBA. The indigenous name for the principal mountain range of southern Africa. It stems from the Nguni word isikhahla meaning "thrown down in a heap". Hence its meaning can be read to be a tumble of rocks. Its alternative Sotho/Tswana spelling is Quathlamba. See also DRAKENSBERGE.

KAKEBEENWA. From the Dutch Kakebeen, meaning a jawbone, and wa meaning a wagon. This name is believed to have originated during the nineteenth century from Dutch farm children who, at one time, used to fashion toy wagons from animal jawbones. More commonly called an ox-drawn or Voortrekker wagon, it originated from Sweden, Esthonia, parts of Germany, Holland, Poland and Rumania and was used by Dutch migrant farmers of the Cape interior. Although intended primarily as a means of transport, it also became adapted by the Trekboers as a highly specialised form of travelling dwelling. Ultimately it gained political symbolism, becoming associated with the growth of Boer Republics in the southern African interior.

KALASA. (Indian). A pitcher; water pot; or ewer. Sometimes held as an attribute by a deity. In architecture, it may be the crowning emblem of a Hindu temple.

KALF. (Afrikaans). See under TRANSOM.

KALPALATA. (Indian). "Vine of the world period"; a wish-fulfilling vine or creeper.

KALYANA MANDAPA. (Indian). "Marriage hall". In late south Indian architecture, a building or pavilion in the temple complex for the celebration of divine wedding festivals.

KAPBALK. (Afrikaans). Timber A-truss used in the construction of Cape Dutch houses and farm structures.

KAPHEK. (Afrikaans). See under LICH-GATE.

KAPLAT. (Afrikaans). See under PURLIN.

KAPLATDAK. (Afrikaans). See under PURLIN ROOF.

KAPLYS. (Afrikaans). See under DRIPSTONE, HOOD MOULD or LABEL MOULD.

KAPSPAR. (Afrikaans). Also referred to as Dakspar. See under RAFTER.

KAPSTEILHUIS. Plural Kapsteilhuise. From the Dutch, literally meaning "house of steep trusses". A dwelling form built in southern Africa up to the turn of the twentieth century by both white settlers and indigenous inhabitants. It consisted of a series of A-frame trusses placed on the ground and thatched over with reeds. See also HARDBIESHUIS.

KARBEEL. (Afrikaans). See under CORBEL.

KAROO HOUSE. See under HIGHVELD DWELLING.

Ka Sebeso. (sePedi). A hearth.

KELDER. (Afrikaans). See under BASEMENT.

KERKBANK. (Afrikaans). See under CHURCH PEW.

KERNGESINEENHEID. (Afrikaans). See under COMPOUND HOMESTEAD.

KEY-STONE. The central stone, or voussoir, at the top of an arch; the last stone placed in position to complete the construction of an arch. (Afrikaans: sluitsteen).

Kgokeletso. (sePedi). Dowel set into the lower end of the beam, which is then set to rest upon the ring beam.

Kgoro. (seTswana). The term has a number of applications. In dwelling construction it is a doorway, but it can also signify an extended family homestead, the cattle byre, the gathering area for the men, or even the larger family grouping.

KHOIKHOI. A group indigenous to southern Africa which in the past has been more generally, and erroneously, referred to as Hottentots. The term is thought to translate as meaning "men of men".

KHOISAN. A conglomerate word created by anthropologists and archaeologists to describe the migrant pastoralist and hunter gatherer groups who inhabited southern Africa at the time when the first white visitors arrived on these shores.

KHORO. In Venda used to denote the main entrance area to a settlement where communal dances and some initiation ceremonies are performed. In Sotho/Tswana this is an area of burial of gathering for the men and of keeping cattle.

KIEL. (Afrikaans). See under VALLEY.

KI GARIEP. Indigenous Khoi name for the Vaal River. This has been translated in the past to mean "Yellow River".

KIMBERLEY BRICKS. Sun dried or green bricks, also known to indigenous builders as kimmerli bricks. The name arose during the 1870s when, as a result of the diamond rush in the northern Cape, prospectors from many parts of the world came to South Africa. They brought with them a building technology used widely in Australia and the USA, where it is better known as adobe. Indigenous people from all parts of southern Africa were drawn to the diamond fields as labourers, where the transfer of technology obviously took place.

KIMMERLI BRICKS. See KIMBERLEY BRICKS.

KING POST. The middle or chief post of a roof, standing on the tie beam and reaching up to the ridge. (Afrikaans: hoofstyl).

KING POST TRUSS. A wooden roof truss consisting of a pair of principal rafters held by a horizontal tie-beam, a vertical king post between tie beam and ridge and usually also two struts to the rafters from the foot of the king post. (Afrikaans: hoofstylkap).

KIRTTIMUKHA. (Indian). A "demon" mask placed above doorways and niches of temples or at the top of the halo or back-slab of sculpted images. It is intended to drive away evil and protect the devout.

KLIPMESSELWERK. (Afrikaans). See under MASONRY.

KLOKGEWEL. (Afrikaans). See under BELL GABLE.

KLOKTORING. (Afrikaans). See under BELFRY.

KLOKVORMIGE DAK. (Afrikaans). See under BELLCAST ROOF.

KLOPPER. (Afrikaans). See under KNOCKER.

KNOCKER. Pendant metal lever, often fixed to an ornamental escutcheon, used to strike an announcing blow at an entrance door. (Afrikaans: klopper).

Kobotlo. (seTswana). A storage shelf.

KONKAAF PLATE. (Afrikaans). See under CONCAVE SHEETING.

KOORLESSENAAR. (Afrikaans). See under LECTERN.

KORTSPAR. (Afrikaans). See under JACK RAFTER.

KOSAMBAKUTI. (Indian). Treasure hall.

KOSYNLYS. (Afrikaans). Also called Argitraaf. See under ARCHITRAVE.

KRAAL. From the Portuguese caral meaning a cattle byre. Although the term describes a cattle enclosure, it is also erroneously applied as a generic noun for all indigenous rural homesteads. As such it is demeaning of indigenous architecture, and is thus insulting to their residents.

KROMLYNIGE PLATE. (Afrikaans). See under CURVILINEAR SHEETING.

KROMMING. (Afrikaans). See under SWEEP.

KROONLYS. (Afrikaans). See under CORNICE.

KRUIN. (Afrikaans). See under CROWN.

KRUISRIB. (Afrikaans). See under CROSS-RODS.

KRUISVLEUVEL. (Afrikaans). See under CROSS WING.

KUMBHA PANJARA. (Indian). A niche decorated with a vase motif.

KUNDA. (Indian). A pitcher; a bowl-shaped vessel; a reservoir.

KUTTAMBALAM. (Indian). A theatrical pavilion in a Kerala temple.

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