Rastafarian, a. and n.
(ˌræstəˈfɑːrɪən, -ˈfɛərɪən)
Also Ras Tafarian.
[f. prec. + -an.]
A. adj. Of or pertaining to the Rastafari sect. B. n. A member of this sect. Hence ˌRastaˈfarianism.
| 1955 G. E. Simpson in Social & Econ. Stud. (Kingston, Jamaica) IV. ii. 134 Emphasis..is placed on love and kindliness to fellow Ras Tafarians. 1960 Guardian 28 June 9/4 The bearded Marijuana-smoking Rastafarian sect. Ibid., The Rastafarians run a campaign to get Jamaican negroes to return to Africa. 1963 Times 19 Apr. 9/1 Eight people were killed and others injured after members of the ganja-smoking Rastafarian cult went wild with guns and machetes. 1968 F. Henriques Family & Colour in Jamaica (ed. 2) xiv. 181 The response of the University was to send a team of experts to investigate and report on Rastafarianism. 1976 Peace News 25 June 3/1 A group of Rastafarian West Indians wearing brightly-coloured woolly hats walking along the pavements alongside us, shaking their maracas. 1976 G. Sims End of Web x. 69 A couple of Rastafarians whose thick matted tassels of hair hung down over their shoulders. 1977 Vole No. 4. 41/2 The cult of Rastafarianism, involving the deification of Haile Selassie, the promise of Ethiopia as their spiritual home, and above all, the rejection of..white society. |