koppie

views updated May 08 2018

koppie (kopje) An Afrikaans word for ‘hill’, and applied to a land-form widely described in Africa. It is similar to a tor, being a steepsided, isolated land-form, about the size of a house, and best developed on granitic outcrops. It often shows an angular, castellated outline, when it is called a ‘castle koppie’. A koppie may be a late stage in the destruction of a bornhardt.

koppie

views updated May 17 2018

koppie(kopje) An Afrikaans word (the literal meaning is ‘little head’), applied to a land-form widely described in Africa. It is similar to a tor, being a steep-sided, isolated land-form, usually at least the size of a house, and best developed on granitic outcrops. It often shows an angular, castellated outline, when it is called a ‘castle koppie’. A koppie may be a late stage in the destruction of a bornhardt.