Knysna

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A coastal town in the Western Cape of South Africa, known for its forests and lagoon ; the sheltered tidal lagoon and estuary beside which that town sits
2. A resort town on South Africa's Garden Route, set among forested hills ; the tidal lagoon and narrow sea inlet that lies at the heart of the area
3. A seaside settlement in the Western Cape province of South Africa ; a brackish tidal lagoon with a narrow channel to the Indian Ocean

Etymology: Knysna is a town and lagoon on South Africa's Garden Route, and the name is of Khoekhoe origin, though its exact meaning is uncertain. Early European settlers recorded the local name in forms that were spelled variously, and the spelling "Knysna" became standard. Because the name passed through several spellings and languages before settling, its original sense is hard to recover with confidence. The name has spread beyond the place itself. The Knysna turaco, a forest bird of the region, is known as the Knysna loerie, a name that ties the bird to the town. Here the place name has become the label for a species.