word-forming element meaning "African," from Latin Afr-, stem of Afer, Afri "African" (noun and adjective; see Africa), or directly from African.
Entries linking to afro-
Africa n.
Latin Africa (terra) "African land, Libya, the Carthaginian territory, the province of Africa; Africa as a continent," fem. of adjective Africus, from Afer "an African," a word of uncertain origin. The Latin word originally was used only in reference to the region around modern Tunisia; it gradually was extended to the whole continent. Derivation from a Phoenician cognate of Arabic afar "dust, earth" is tempting. The Middle English word was Affrike.
Afro n.
"full, bushy hairstyle worn by some people of African ancestry," 1938, from Afro-. Sometimes shortened to 'fro. As a general adjective for black styles of clothing, music, etc., it is attested from 1966.