Orange Free State
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
This province of the Union of South Africa originated in 1824 when some Dutch fanners from Cape Colony settled across the Orange River.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Orange Free State” mean?
This province of the Union of South Africa originated in 1824 when some Dutch fanners from Cape Colony settled across the Orange River.
Is “Orange Free State” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.