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William Strutt's depiction of an Australian giving a cooee. |
This is a prologue to my pitching a very different sort of book to publishers: it is about the words and phrases that we Australians use among ourselves, to the utter confusion of outsiders.
Here you see a refined selection from a far larger number of entries in my ms, and these all start with A. Right now, there are 1160 distinct expressions (you can find them all listed at the end of this page) and some 2450 quotations from carefully recorded original sources. In most cases, I have been able to push the first use date from what you will find in other similar works: each entry has been meticulously checked: I am right, and they are wrong.
The print sources are all sorts of books, the the Trove newspaper archive, on which I am an active voluntrove. The collection presents Australian English at its most inventive.
The main surprises in this sample:
* how early some Australians realised that our indigenous people were being ripped off;
* how early some expressions crept into the language;
* that alligator in The Rocks (it had to be a goanna;
* how we learned to make floors out of ant bed;
* how soon we started marking Anzac Day;
* when we started saying 'Australia'.
I could go on about the rest, but just scroll down to the list below. Here is a collection of sample entries:
John Dunmore Lang, An Historical and Statistical Account of New South Wales, 2nd
edition, 1837, volume 1, 37.
There is black blood, at this moment, on the hands of individuals of good
repute in the colony of New South Wales, of which all the waters of New Holland
would be insufficient to wash out the deep and indelible stains!
Rudston Read, What I Heard, Saw and Did at the Australian Gold Fields, 252.
I
heard a native in the town of Sofala
… amusing a lot of diggers by chaffing a sergeant of mounted police … asking
him what business had he or any other white fellow to come and take his land, and rob him of his gold? What
would he … say, if black fellow went to England and “turn em Queen out”?
David Collins, An Account of the English Colony in New
South Wales, vol. 1, 1798, 454.
Conversing with Bennillong
after his return from England, where he had obtained much knowledge of our customs
and manners … I then asked him where the black men (or Eora) came from? He hesitated;
did they come from any island? His answer was, that he knew of none: they came from
the clouds (alluding perhaps to the aborigines
of the country); and when they died, they returned to the clouds (Boo-row-e). He
wished to make me understand that they ascended in the shape of little children,
first hovering in the tops and in the branches of trees; and mentioned something
about their eating, in that state, their favourite food, little fishes.
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales
Advertiser, 11 September 1803, 4.
JAMES WEST, a Convict-servant, By HIS
EXCELLENCY’S Permission taken off the Store.
All Persons are hereby strictly Cautioned against Harbouring and Employing the
said Absentee; and whoever will give
Information concerning him to Henry Kable, at Sydney, shall be handsomely
Rewarded.
South Australian Gazette and Colonial
Register, 8 August 1846, 2.
When Governor Grey “absquatulated” to New Zealand, he carried off with him, by no,
other authority than his own that we ever heard of, about £6000 of money
belonging to the colonists of South Australia …but [as] a second supply of
money of nearly the same amount is on its way to New Zealand, it is time to
inquire by what authority is the money of the colonists misappropriated?
The
Australian (Sydney), 27 September 1826, 2. This phrase means reliably or correctly calculated.
Consequently, only
one fourth of the whole number of flocks and herds in the Colony graze on the
waste lands. That is, according to
Cocker, out of profits amounting to one hundred thousand pounds, a
Government Regulation in one instant deducts twenty thousand pounds, and
abstracts that sum from the pockets of settlers…
The Canberra Times, 18 April 1995. 24.
Peper was also told that the spectator was
drunk, and that he had also clashed with Norman last year. “Last year Greg
evidently told this guy to, ‘Start acting
your age, not your shoe size’. This guy held the grudge for a year.”
The West Australian, 24 November 1945, 5. Article ‘Brave New Words’.
The most popular Army
gamble is the “swi game,” from the German for two. Rugby is “organised wrestling”;
Australian rules football, “aerial pingpong.”
Any type of dessert is “pudding”; rice is “Ah Foo Ballast”; sausages are “snaggers”;
tea is “chi” or “brew.”
Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga), 12 July
1928, 5.
AEROPLANE
JELLIES AND CUSTARDS: 5½d Packet...
aggro:
1970
Tribune
(Sydney), 5 August 1970, 2.
The present society
gives them their values, turning their aggressive revolt against their boring
school or factory existence into physical aggression (“aggro” in skinhead language) and a philistine hatred for culture.
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’
Advocate, 14 December 1889, 9.
Sympathy without something substantial is all froth and no beer.
Arthur Bowes Smyth,
Journal, HRNSW (2), 394. It was actually a lace monitor, or goanna.
16 February 1788 An
alligator, ab’t 8 feet long, was
seen close by where I go to birdlime just behind the camp, and has been seen
among the tents at night more than once.
Port Lincoln Times (SA), 24 August 1984,
32.
Coffey tried hard all day and took some good
marks, but mistakes further down the line wasted these precious opportunities.
At the last change it was all over red
rover unless someone was. able to perform a miracle.
Western
Mail (Perth), 27 December 1928, 2. Very early, but is it related?
“Ambo” (Perth) writes: “From what is the
word ambulance derived?” The word ambulance is derived from the Latin “Ambulare,”
to move about, and has come into English through the French, the substantive “ambulance”
being formed from the objectival participle “ambulant,” as in “hopital ambulant”
(moving hospital.)
Referee
(Sydney), 12 September 1900, 5. (A different meaning?)
But the optics of
the young millionaire fairly, glistened as they lit upon a speaking likeness of
Mr. E. H. Fry, side by side with an ‘ankle-biter’
of Mr. ‘Joe’ Thompson.
The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River
General Advertiser, 2 February 1850, 3. Filler from the US: indicates
origin.
Hurrying back to the bank, he informed the
paying teller that he had made a mistake. “We rectify no mistakes after the
parties have left the bank,” was the reply. “Yes, but you’ve paid me too much
money.” This was quite “another pair of
sleeves.” The officers of the bank were instantly on the qui vive. Mr. Jesserun handed in the
1000 and received a 100 in return, without even a “thank you!” by way of difference.
[New York Globe.]
The Australasian (Melbourne), 12 July 1890, 43.
Consequently he
stopped, and going down upon his knees on the ant-bed floor, opened his box, took out a bundle of papers and a
small packet.
Mrs A. (Julia)
Blitz, ‘An Australian Millionaire’, serialised in Evening News, (Sydney), 18 September 1893, 7. At the close of the
19th century, Julia Blitz felt she needed
to explain ant bed to the readers of her novel. The drawing room she describes
was in a house that was once a station manager’s quarters.
The “drawing-room” floor was of ant-bed, which, when crushed to powder and mixed with water,
hardens like cement; the walls were papered at intervals with woodcuts from
illustrated periodicals and some painted almanacs, which served to partly
conceal the ungainly fissures of the slabs and curtain their ugliness.
K. (‘Katie’) Langloh
Parker, Australian Legendary Tales,
1896. The dardurr was the Yuwalaraay name
for the Eora gunya.
The young men did as they were bade. When they had the bark
cut and brought in, Wirreenun said: “Go you now and raise with ant-bed a high
place, and put thereon logs and wood for a fire, build the ant-bed about a foot from the ground. Then put you a floor of
ant-bed a foot high wherever you are going to build a dardurr.”
The Northern Miner (Charters Towers), 11 November 1899, 5.
…office and store for tools, detonators, &c., combined,
12 by 10 tent, with the added luxury of an ant-bed
floor…
Kalgoorlie
Miner, 28 October 1896, 2.
In
about six or seven weeks hence the members of the local Presbyterian
denomination will worship in a new building in Cassidy-street … Bricks have
been used for the base work, and these have been covered with ant caps.
Sir Joseph Banks, The Endeavour Journal of Sir Joseph Banks,
vol. 2.
23 May 1770…upon the sides of the lagoon grew many Mangrove
trees in the branches of which were many nests of Ants, one sort of which were quite green. These when the branches
were disturbd came out in large numbers and revengd themselves very
sufficiently upon their disturbers, biting sharper than any I have felt in
Europe.
Louisa Ann Meredith,
Notes and Sketches of New South Wales,
69. This is a bull ant.
Many various kinds of
ants
inhabit New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land: I know about a dozen species
myself. One is a very formidable-looking personage, full an inch long, with a
shiny coat of mail gleaming purple and blue, and a threatening sting, which I
am told inflicts a most painful wound, as severe as that of the hornet.
The Advertiser, 8 June 1915, 12. At this early time, ‘Anzac’ is a
place, or HQ.
During the progress
of the fight I received information from Anzac
that enemy reinforcements had been seen advancing from Maidos towards Krithia.
Sunday Times (Perth) 4 Jun 1916, 7. A recipe contest: she got an
engraved electroplated butter knife. The leading winners were melon and lemon
conserve; chilli wine and wheaten meal biscuits.
Fourth prize is awarded to Mrs. M. Sutherland Grosvenor, Mt.
Kokeby, for recipe—
Anzac Ginger Biscuits.
Ingredients: One cup treacle, quarter-cup dripping or butter, quarter-cup
sugar, quarter-cup milk. Put on stove to make hot. Then put in dessertspoonful
of ginger, one teaspoonful of baking soda and enough flour to roll out stiff.
Cut round. Bake in moderate oven.
The Advertiser, 28 August 1915, 2. Note that this was to be October
13. The April 25 day was still a long way ahead.
The Executive
Committee of the MONSTER PROCESSION, PAGEANT, and CARNIVAL to be held on
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, in aid of THE WOUNDED SOLDIERS’ FUND, has decided that
the day shall be known as ANZAC DAY.
The Souvenir offered by the Committee to the person whose suggestion for a
title was adopted has been awarded to Mr. Robert Wheeler, Prospect.
Barrier Miner, 13 October 1915, 3: this is the 161st instance of “Anzac
Day” in Trove, and the first from outside South Australia (but it is from
Broken Hill, which always looked to Adelaide).
Mr. James referred to
the “Anzac Day” celebration which, was
to be held in Adelaide in connection with the Eight Hours’ Day celebrations there
the proceeds from which were to be utilised to swell the South Australian Wounded
Soldiers’ Fund.
Sydney Morning Herald, 14 October 1915, 10. Before this event, there
were almost 220 “hits”. This one was in the interstate press notices—on page
10!
ADELAIDE, Wednesday.
This year the Eight-hours Day committee sacrificed the identity of its celebration
by conducting a carnival in aid of the wounded Soldiers’ Fund. The committee was
enlarged to embrace all sections of the community, and the day was observed as Anzac Day. Many thousands of people witnessed
the street procession.
The Advertiser, 20 October 1915, 14: a brawl had broken out between
drunken soldiers and police—but this ‘Day’ was on October 13, not April 25.
THE STREET RIOT. Incidents
connected with the riot in King William-street on Anzac Day were again related in the Adelaide Police Court on Tuesday,
when Allen Dalziell was charged with having hindered Constable Feudeloff in the
execution of his duty, namely, while he was arresting John Davoren on a charge
of drunkenness.
Gippsland Times, 16 December 1915, 3: yet another date for the day,
17 December. There were more than 400 instances of “Anzac Day” before this.
The … Lord Mayor’s
Central “Button” Committee has fixed to-morrow as “Anzac” day, and have issued at special “remembrance” button to be
sold throughout the Commonwealth at the usual price of 1/ [one shilling], the
proceeds to be divided between all the tents working for the welfare of those
under arms either at home or the front, viz., Y.M.C.A., Churches of England,
Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Methodist, and Salvation Army.
The Brisbane Courier, 10 January 1916, 8, and now the pattern was
set. ANZAC day would be April 25.
Proposed Celebration
in Brisbane. A public meeting will be held in the Exhibition Hall this evening to
discuss the steps to be taken for the celebration of Anzac Day on April 25.
The Register (Adelaide), 10 January 1916, 4. He was an early adopter!
(‘Well, I was 70 years
old last birthday,’ remarked the gentleman from Blackrock, ‘and I am not likely
to forget it, because it was April 25, Anzac
Day.’
Western Mail, 18 December 1941, 35. This and the next entry both
come from W.A.
Darkness, was approaching,
so the three anti-tank gunners, reconciled to their unhappy position, placed the
ammunition in a handy place ready for use … The corporal came along and during a
“once over” found that in the hurry of the previous night the ammunition had not
been primed! Imagine the feelings of the three anti-tank gunners! After the first
dread thoughts had passed away out came the postal orderly’s final remarks: “Wouldn’t
it ——. Anyhow, she’s apples.”
The West Australian, 24 November 1945, 5, Article ‘Brave New Words’.
Anything satisfactorily
arranged or done is sometimes “sewn up” but more frequently: “she’s apples” or “she’s caster.” The roots
of both phrases are unknown.
Shepparton Advertiser (Vic.), 16 August 1888, 1. Note that this is
Scots dialect.
I winna argy-bargy
wi’ ye, Tammas; but I dinna see hoo ye cud get at it by presentiment.
Gippsland Mercury (Sale, Vic.), 5 May 1881, 3.
By direction of the
mayor, the artesian well water was
allowed to stream into the street during the afternoon hours, and considerable
interest was manifested by our visitors in the, to them, unusual sight.
The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 17 September 1881,
513. It needed explaining.
The great under current is tapped at last. Mr. J. H. Angas
has got Artesian water 2.5 miles
north of the Blinman, and it runs to the surface. We shall have the real
Australian rivers upon the surface yet.
Daily Mirror (Sydney) 7 September 1943, 6. The fish wrapper
newspapers carried syndicated stories like this. There had been an
indecipherable instance of A or M,
in the Inverell Times 16 May 1941, long before Japan entered the war.
Some of the warships built a smokescreen on either flank and
the landing boats surged forward into the valley in between. Others steamed
offshore from Lae and pounded the town and the ‘drome. Bombers dropped their
loads on Lae until the Japs didn’t know whether they were Arthur or Martha. Then the shelling of the beach suddenly ended and
the time for wondering was over and the time for action had come.
Truth (Sydney), 14 March 1948, 17. See Rafferty’s rules.
THE LATE lamented Mr. Rafferty would have jumped with joy
had he been at Erskineville Oval yesterday, when Eastern Suburbs and Newtown
staged trials for the coming League season. Players were all over the place
like Brown’s cows, and most didn’t know whether they were Arthur or Martha. Still, the season’s only beginning, and Rafferty
will be put to shame later.
Sydney Mail, 25 August 1926, 16.
‘And the shivoo’s this arvo?’
‘Er — yes.’
She slipped over to the window. Red and Alf were still busy with the car.
‘Slip off yer shoes,’ she said curtly. ‘Now follow me.’
The Canberra Times, 18 February 1990, 9.
Here is one more piece of very important advice. Check the
expiry date on your card before your leave home. If it expires while you are
overseas, it will be as useful as an ashtray
on a motor bike.
Coolamon-Ganmain Farmers’ Review, 19 July 1907, 11.
JUNEE SLOW TO START IN AUSSIE
RULES GAME.
On Saturday, Junee Australian Rules team went down to Holbrook after a very
slow start. Junee, it will be remembered, were very slow to get going against
Yerong Creek after pushing The Rock to 10 points the week before, but on
Saturday they slept through the first half until awakened by coach Roy Hart in
the dressing room … but they had shut the gate too late.
The Australian Women’s Weekly, 1 June 1966, 10. Almost there…
On to Alice Springs, where Pat said she was given the
traditional Aussie salute flies! “Not
that they bothered me much. Those fly sprays are pretty good.”
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 30 January 1813,
3. A poem called ‘Effusions of Gratitude’, by Michael Massey Robinson. First
Australian use in print.
FROM Albion’s blest
Isle have we cross’d the wide Main,
And brav’d all the Dangers, of Neptune’s Domain—
The Hurricane’s Whirlwind, the Tempest’s loud Roar,
An Asylum to find on Australia’s rude
Shore
For the Genius of Britain sent forth a Decree,
That her Sons should be exil’d—once more to be free!
This is a good place to stop, because this pre-dates Matthew Flinders' often-cited use of Australia in a footnote
Now get your chops around this lot, and ask when you last mullenised something. or wore a donkey-supper hat...
Aboriginal blood: 1837; Aboriginal
land: c. 1852; aborigines: 1798; absentee: 1803; absquatulate: 1841; according to Cocker: 1826; act your age, not your shoe size: 1995; aerial ping pong: 1945; Aeroplane jelly: 1928; aggro: 1970;
aggy: 1899; all froth and no
beer: 1889; alligator: 1788; all over, red rover: 1984; ambo: 1928;
ankle-biter: 1900; another pair
of sleeves: 1850; ant bed: 1890; ant caps: 1896; ants: 1770;
Anzac: 1915; Anzac biscuits: 1916; ANZAC Day: 1915; apples (she’s): 1941; argy-bargy: 1888; artesian water: 1881; Arthur or Martha: 1943; arvo: 1926;
ash tray on a motor bike: 1990; Aussie:
1915; Aussie Rules: 1907; Aussie salute: 1921; Australasia: 1793; Australia: 1793; Australian Rules: 1865; babbler: 1904; back-blocks: 1862; back chat: 1895; backhander: 1894; back of beyond: 1830; back of Bourke: 1871; bad trot: 1914; bagman: 1841;
Bagman’s Gazette: 1900; bail up:
1844.; balls-up: 1970; Bananaland: 1881; bandicoot: 1799; banker, running a: 1866; barbie: 1973;
bar, bull: 1979; bark hut: 1815; barney: 1855;
barrack: 1883; barracker: 1881; barracking: 1878; bar, roo: 1977; bash hat: 1950; basket weavers: 1982; bastard: 1945; bastardry: 1945; bathers: 1911; bathing: 1810; bathing dress: 1830; Bathurst burr: 1850; battler: 1901; beak: 1838;
beanie: 1945; beano: 1908; bean (without a): 1891; beauty bottler: 1957; bee’s knees: 1874; belly buster: 1933; belly-flop: 1924; Belyando spew: c. 1864; berko: 1988;
berley: 1871; bicycle: 1851; big hat no cattle: 1994; big note: 1938; big smoke: 1854; big wigs: 1825; bike: 1898;
bikkies: 1890; bikkies (money):
1977; bilby: 1886; billabong: 1838; billy: 1827;
billycart: 1898; billy lids: 2000; billy-o: 1887; bindi-eye: 1907; bingey: 1882;
bint: 1945; bite his lug: 1900; bitser: 1926;
bitumen, leave the: 1926; blackbirding:
c. 1827; blackfellow: 1831; blackleg: 1865; Black Maria: 1868; black stump: 1865; black tracker: 1828; Blind Freddy: 1907; bloke: 1848;
blokey: 1990; bloodhouse: 1901; bloody: 1853;
blow: 1929; blowfly: 1829; blowie: 1911;
Blucher boots: 1821; bludger:
1897; bluegum: 1803; blue (in the sense of lose money): 1898; Blue Mountain parrot: 1823; Blue Mountains: 1793; blue, start a: 1938; bluetongue: 1849; Bluey: 1845;
bluey: 1880; blunt: 1826; bob (shilling): 1838; bodgie: 1950;
Bogan: 1987; bogey: 1788; bog roll: 1988; boiling down: c. 1843; bolter: 1827;
bombora: 1901; Bondi tram, like
a: 1943; bonzer: 1851; boodle: 1898;
Boofhead: 1924; boofy: 1993; boomerang: 1804; boots and all: 1838; borak: 1893;
boring as batshit: 1999; boshter:
1903; bosker: 1912; boss cockie: 1875; Boss-of-the-Board: 1900; Boss-of-the-Board: 1900; Botany Bay: 1786; boundary rider: 1860; bowerbird: 1894; bowlo: 2004;
bowyangs: 1889; box tree: 1834; brass razoo: 1927; breakaway: 1893; brekky: 1900;
brickfielder: 1829; brickie: 1902; brick short of a load: 1992; bright-eyed and bushy-tailed: 1954; Brown’s cows: 1841; brown-eye: 1981; brum (penny): 1861; brumby: 1871;
brush: 1788; bubbler: 1912; Buckley’s chance: 1887; budgerigar: 1845; budgie smugglers: 2006; bugger me dead: 1975; buggy: 1806;
Bullamakanka: 1948; Bulletin:
c.1880; bullock driver: 1813; bull-roarer: 1888; Bundy clock: 1905; bunger: 1891;
bunny: 1952; bunya bunya: 1841; bunyip: 1845;
bunyip aristocracy: 1853; burning
off: 1805; burrawang: 1831; bush: 1801;
bush bashing: 1943; bush
carpenter: 1902; bushed: 1847; bushfire: 1831; bush inn: c. 1850; bush lawyer: 1835; bush lemon: 1910; bushman: 1832; bushranger: 1805; bush store: 1847; bush telegraph: 1863; bush tucker: 1884; bushwoman: 1869; busier than Bourke street: 1877; busier than Pitt Street: 1869; B.Y.O.: 1968;
Cabbage Garden: 1842; cabbage tree
hat: 1799; cabbage tree mob: 1841; cabs: 1852;
Cab Sav: 1974; cackleberry: 1918; call a spade a bloody shovel: 1897; camp: 1788;
canary: 1853; cane toad: 1935; cark: 1983;
cart: c. 1854; caser: 1892; cask wine: 1975; Catherine Hayes: 1859; cedar: 1795;
celestials: 1856; chalkie: 1928; champagne tastes on a beer budget: 1941; chap: 1898;
chardonnay socialist: 1987; charged
like a wounded bull: 1976; chateau
cardboard: 1987; chats: 1917; cheap as chips: 1875; chewy: 1922;
Chico roll: 1958; chocolate
crackles: 1937; chockers: 1990; choof off: 1965; chook: 1889;
chook raffle: 1956; chook with
its head chopped off: 1982; Chow: 1855; chow: 1899;
Christmas beetle: 1893; chuck:
1838; chuck a u-ey: 1975; chuck a wobbly: 1986; chunder: 1954; churchyarder: 1900; chyack: 1873;
cigar: 1859; Circular Quay: 1836; civvies: 1946; Clayton’s: 1983; clean skins: 1868; clearing: 1788; clear out: 1831; clobber: 1884; clothes hoist: 1911; clothes props: 1846; coach travel: 1821; coal: 1797;
cobber: 1890; cobbler: 1827; cobbler’s pegs: 1864; cockatoo: c. 1854; cockatoo fence: 1842; cockatoo (lookout): 1991; cock-eye bob: 1884; cockies: 1878; cockie’s joy: 1901; coffee: 1902;
coffee tent: 1852; coldie: 1985; Collins street cocky: 1924; come good: 1948; come in spinner: 1919; comic cuts: 1922; Compo: 1921;
concertina: 1892; conchy: 1917; constables: 1826; cooee: 1826;
coolamon: 1854; coot: 1915; corduroy road: 1856; corn: 1834;
Cornstalk: 1827; cossies: 1903; cot case: 1915; could eat a horse and chase the rider: 1934; country store: 1834; Cousin Jack: 1864; cove: 1817;
cow cocky: 1907; cracker night:
1890; crack hardy: 1897; crack onto: 1974; crawler: 1864; creek: 1790;
cricket: 1804; crimson: 1883; crinoline: 1839; cronk: 1900;
crook: 1896; cropper, come a:
1859; crow-eaters: 1870; cry crack: 1871; cuddy: 1826;
cultural cringe: 1951; currency:
1822; cut lunch: 1913; cut out: 1867; cycling: c. 1895; cyclists: 1899; dacks: 1982;
dag: 1971; dags (wool): 1928; Dagwood dog: 1951; dam: 1869;
damper: 1825; darg: 1879; date: 2003;
dead cert: 1877; dead flat: 1900; dead marine: 1856; dead set: 1954; deaf adder: 1832; deaner (shilling): 1892; death adder: 1845; death warmed up: 1922; demo: 1952;
derro: 1976; devon sausage: 1994; didgeridoo: 1918; did his block: 1904; didn’t come down in the last shower: 1893; digger: 1817;
digging: 1849; dill: 1946; dilly bag 1829; dilly-dallying: 1826; dingbat: 1887; dingo: 1788;
dinkum: 1917; dinky di: 1914; diphthong ships: 1852; dipstick: 1982; disperse: 1805; divvy: 1885;
Dixie: 1918; do a Melba: 1950; dob in: 1953; dodgy: 1856;
dog’s breakfast: 1903; do his
lolly: 1954; doing the Block: 1854; dole: 1915;
dole bludger: 1975; dollop: 1833; Dolly’s wax: 1909; donah: 1889;
done like a dinner: 1838; done me
dash: 1915; donkey engine: 1852; donkey-supper hat: c. 1897; donkey vote: 1894; don’t bust your foofer valve: 1884; don’t give a rat’s: 1994; doover: 1941;
double dink: 1914; double-headed
coins: 1885; dowak: 1848; down the gurgler: 1979; down under: 1907; drafting: 1836; drag the chain: 1840; dray: 1820;
drink with the flies: 1898; drongo:
1837; drop bear 1967; dropsies: 1952; drought: c. 1842; drought: 1878; drover: 1814;
drover’s dog: 1868; dry-blower:
1869; duchess (v): 1944; duck’s disease: 1940; dud: 1918;
duds: 1900; duffer: 1853; duffing: 1856; dummy: 1896;
dumper: 1912; dunny: 1942; earbash 1944;
echidna: 1828; ecology: 1905; education: c. 1830; elastic-side boots: 1896; elderly: 1900; emu: 1788;
emu eggs: 1829; emu oil: 1860; enemy origin place names: 1916; Eora: 1798;
every man and his dog: 1902; exclusionists:
1826; fair cop: 1897; fair crack of the whip: 1902; fair dinkum: 1880; fair go: 1863; fairy bread: 1915; fairy floss: 1906; fart-arse around: 1975; fat lamp: 1827; fed up to the back teeth: 1919; fell off perch: 1857; Female Factory: 1826; fence: 1788;
ferals: 1992; fibro-cement: 1905; finger talk: 1934; first fleet: 1817; fizzer: 1861;
Flash Jack: 1826; flash your
dover: 1872; flat chat: 1986; flat out like a lizard drinking: 1930; fleahouse: 1935; fleas: 1803;
flick, give him the: 1979; flicks:
1918; flies: c. 1842; floater (pie): 1923; Flying Doctor: 1922; flying fox: 1793; fly veil: 1849; football: 1829; foot in mouth disease: 1910; footpath: 1803; footrot: 1822; footy: 1894;
forester: 1861; fossick: 1852; four by two: 1898; freebie: 1991; Fremantle doctor: 1873; Freo: 1947;
fruit fly: 1862; full as a goog:
1942; full board: 1875; funnelweb: 1927; Furphy: 1915;
gaff: 1901; galah: 1861; gallows: c. 1838; gammon: 1826;
gander: 1939; garbage: 1823; garbo: 1950;
gas lamps: 1855; g’day: 1848; gee-gee: 1898; geek: 1953;
gerries: 1991; get a guernsey:
1902; gibber: 1793; gilgai: 1868;
gin: 1831; ginormous: 1942; Gippsland earth-worm: 1889; give it a burl: 1911; give me the drum: 1925; glory box: 1904; goanna: 1832;
goat (act the): 1881; go bush:
1871; goldfield: 1849; gold mine: 1788; gone bung: 1868; good fist of it: 1856; good oil: 1914; good on ya: 1973; goog: 1914;
goolies: 1922; goonack: 1873; goon: 1972;
go-slow: 1916; go you halves:
1870; gramma: 1874; grass-tree: 1831; grazier: 1804; green bough: 1896; greenhide: 1836; greenies: 1982; gremlins: 1942; grog: 1788;
groupers: 1946; gully-raking: c.
1837; gum-sucker: 1849; gum tree: 1788; gunya: 1798;
gutless wonder: 1936; gutser:
1917; had it: 1945; hairy eyeball: 1982; half a mo: 1898; half drunk half the time: 1967; hambone: 1964; handkerchiefs: 1901; hang around like a bad smell: 1941; hanging up: 1853; happy as Larry: 1857; hard: 1896;
hard case: 1900; hard up: 1827; hardwood: 1823; harness cask: 1827; hashmagandy: 1883; hatful of arseholes: 1957; hatter: 1858;
have a bash: 1943; have a lash:
1892; have the wood on: 1889; have your guts for garters: 1888; hawker: 1818;
hidey: 1863; history, Australian:
1888; hobble: c. 1830; homestead: 1817; hoon: 1983;
hooroo: 1916; horizontal scrub:
1860; hospital paddock: 1888; hot-cross bun maker: 1903; Hoyts, man outside: 1935; humpy: 1838;
hundreds and thousands: 1899; Hungry
Tyson: 1877; hunk: 1883; huntsman spider: 1914; Hyde Park: 1810; Hyde Park Barracks: 1829; icebergs: 1905; ice block: 1934; idiot box: 1959; illywhacker: 1985; indications: 1885; inexpressibles: 1824; inland: 1806;
in good nick: 1878; invasion: c.
1798; ironbark: 1803; iron gang: 1826; iron lace: 1919; iron lace: 1944; itchy grub: 1925; jackeroo: 1845; jack jumper: 1882; Jack the Painter: 1846; Jacky Howe: 1900; jake: 1918;
jigger: 1898; jilgie: 1873; jimmy brits: 1942; Jimmy Grants: 1850; Jimmy Woodser: 1876; jinker: 1861;
jirrand: 1827; joey: 1841; John Chinaman: 1839; Johnny cake: 1827; Johns: 1915;
journo: 1969; jumbuck: 1841; jumper: c. 1853; jump-up: 1828; Jungle juice: 1941; kangaroo: 1770; kangaroo dog: 1806; kangaroo feathers: 1900; kangaroos in the top paddock: 1987; kangaroo paw: 1892; kangaroo skins: 1898; kangaroo tail soup: 1837; keep nit: 1890; keg: 1803;
kelpie: 1879; kerfuffle: 1935; kerosene: 1854; kibosh: 1835;
kick the bucket: 1832; kindergarten:
1890; kindy: 1933; king hit: 1938; kip (swy): 1910; Kiwi: 1918;
knock off: 1825; knockabout: 1856; knock your socks off: 1978; koala: 1804;
Kokoda track: 1908; Kokoda trail:
1942; kookaburra: 1829; koori: 1972;
koradji: 1834; kylie: 1842; laced lizard: 1789; Lady Blamey: 1942; lag, old: 1831; lagerphone: 1946; lagging: c. 1830; lagoon: 1803;
lamb down: 1838; lamb’s fry; Lamington: 1901; land mullet: 1916; larrikin: 1870; lawn tennis: 1874; leaks like a sieve: 1840; leeches: 1817; leg in: 1871;
legless: 1986; leg pulling: 1890; like a hairy goat: 1913; like the clappers: 1920; lime burners: 1804; lime-juicer: c. 1855; lime-juicer: c. 1855; line ball: 1849; lingo: 1825;
lippy: 1927; little bottler: 1855; little ripper: 1912; lollies: 1846; long neck: 1827; long service leave: 1898; lower than a snake’s belly: 1914; lubra: 1838;
lumper: 1843; lurk: 1904; lurk merchant: 1945; lumber: 1805;
lyrebird: 1800; mad as a cut
snake: 1946; makarrata: 1937; make a crust: 1860; making wages: 1851; mallee: 1882;
mallee bull: 1862; march fly:
1843; marmalade: 1808; marsupial: 1829; matches: 1841; mate: 1860;
mateship: 1857; meatworks: 1872; meet the eye: 1827; Melbourne: c. 1895; metho: 1922;
mia-mia: 1847; miles to Griffiths
tea: 1913; milko: 1904; Minties: 1924; missed the bus: 1893; mixed-bathers: 1911; mob (of animals): 1834; moleskin: 1823; mongrel: 1889; moniker: 1888; monotreme: 1876; moonlighter: 1878; moonlight flit: 1834; more hide than Jessie: 1925; mosquitoes: 1828; motza: 1923;
mouse spider: 1947; mozzies: 1922; mucker: 1899;
muck up: 1896; muck up: 1904; mud map: 1896; mug: 1888;
mug lair: 1924; mulesing: 1939; mulga: 1858;
mullenise: 1884; mulligrubs: 1832; mullock: 1889; mushies: 1904; mushies: 1915; muso: 1956;
mutton dressed up as lamb: 1893; myall:
1829; my stomach thinks my throat’s been
cut: 1933; myxomatosis: 1938; nark: 1885;
native raw materials: 1798; nature
strip: 1928; neck, to get it in the:
1893; Never Never: 1861; new Australians: 1940; new chum: 1827; New year’s day: 1789; nick: 1889;
nines, dressed up to the: 1835; Norfolk
Island pine: 1829; not backwards in
coming forward: 1991; nothing between
the ears: 1938; not much chop: 1857; not the full quid: 1947; not worth a crumpet: 1947; no worries: 1970; nulla nulla: 1808; numbat: 1854;
Ocker: 1971; off her kadoova:
1883; old hand: 1827; offsider: 1871; off the beaten track: 1855; old hand: 1902; omnibus: 1851; one armed bandits: 1939; one oar in the water: 1994; on his hammer: 1932; on his hunkers: 1851; on spec: 1845; on the nose: 1942; on the ran-tan: 1854; on the wallaby: 1858; onion, to be off: 1879; open go: 1882; open slather: 1916; ophthalmia: 1819; other-sider: 1865; outback: 1868; out station: 1824; overlanders: 1840; packer: 1873;
Paddle Pop: 1954; paddock: 1807; pademelon: 1842; patta: 1803;
Pavlova: 1934; Peach Melba: 1912; penny farthing; peppered: 1851; perish, doing a: 1881; perve: 1968;
petrolhead: 1986; piano 1788; picnic: c. 1854; piece of piss: 1987; pig’s arse!: 1977; pig-root: 1896; piker: 1909;
Pinchgut: c. 1842; pissed: 1984; pissed off: 1981; Pitt Street farmer: 1918; Pivot City: 1855; plant: 1835;
platypus: 1821; plonk: 1916; plute: 1900;
poler: 1848; Pompey dodger: 1855; pong: 1928;
portable soup: 1821; pobblebonk: 1990; poddy: 1864;
pointing the bone: 1901; poison
bait: 1847; poisoner: 1900; poke in the eye with a burnt stick: 1887; poke mullock: 1912; poker machine: 1895; pokies: 1967;
Pommy 1912; pooch: 1927; possie: 1917;
possum: c. 1839; possum skin
cloak: c. 1840; post: 1827; preselection: 1857; prezzies: 1998; prickly pear: 1827; Prince Alberts: 1894; printing press: 1795; privy: 1813;
Progress Association: 1860; prospecting:
1849; prospector: 1849; puddling: 1851; punt: 1834;
purler: 1848; Push, the: 1899; put the acid on: 1898; put the boot in: 1906; put the frighteners on: 1973; quarantine: c. 1842; Queen Street cocky: 1926; quid: 1866;
rabbit-oh: 1894; rabbit-proof
fence: 1886; rabbits: 1860; rack off: 1976; Rafferty’s rules: 1906; ratbag: 1925;
rat with a gold tooth: 1953; rawhide:
1849; real corker: 1886; redback: 1883; redgum: 1816;
red ned: 1949; reffo: 1945; rego: 1972;
rellies: 1978; remittance: 1864; ribuck: 1891;
ridgy didge: 1974; riding attire:
1900; right as rain: 1874; righto: 1902;
ring-barking: c. 1844; ringer:
1870; road: 1788; road train: 1913; ‘rock carvings’: 1788; roof rabbit: 1891; ropeable: 1847; rort: 1901;
rosiner: 1930; rotgut: 1831; rough around the edges: 1952; rough as bags: 1911; rough as guts: 1920; rough end of the pineapple: 1950; rough spin: 1868; rouseabout: 1907; rum: 1826;
run: 1834; runners: 1961; runs like a dream: 1919; rustbucket: 1949; ruthless and toothless: 1945; sacred sites: 1927; Saint Andrews spider: 1939; saltbush: 1848; salted: 1854;
sand: 1846; sandgroper: 1881; sandy blight: c. 1865; sandshoes: 1884; sandy blight: 1900; sanger: 1987;
saucy: 1860; sausage roll: 1842; sawney: 1826;
scab: 1842; scads: 1925; scallops: 1994; scalp: 1852; scalper: 1898;
schools: 1796; scrammy: 1857; screen door: 1903; scribbly gum: 1886; scrub up well: 1977; scrub-bash: 1929; scungy: 1927;
sea-breeze: 1830; search party:
1833; selector: 1862; selfie: 2013;
semaphore: 1836; semi-detached:
1850; Send it down, Hughie: 1910; sent out: 1882; Seppo: 1998;
serve, give him a: 1986; servo:
1985; settler: 1803; shag on a rock, a: 1843; shandygaff: 1848; shanty: 1830;
shanty: 1832; shearing: c. 1840; sheep dog: 1821; sheila: 1921;
she’ll be right: 1848; sheoak:
1803; sheoak: 1803; shicer: 1853;
shicker: 1883; shindy: 1828; shingle, lost or loose: 1846; shirty: 1865;
shivoo: 1881; shit for brains:
1984; shivoo: 1882; shonky: 1958;
shoot through: 1944; shoot
(wave): 1910; short and curlies: 1982; short arms, deep pockets: 1951; shout: c. 1852; show pony: 1940; shypoo: 1881;
sick as a dog: 1830; sickie: 1952; silent cop: 1921; silly coot: 1900; silver-tails: 1879; Simon Pure: 1832; sin bin: 1968; since sliced bread: 1952; skedaddle: 1874; skid lid: 1953; skite: 1887;
sky-pilot: 1900; slab of beer:
1911; slanguage: 1896; sledging: 1979; sleepout: 1914; sling off: 1891; sling off: 1892; sling your hook: 1884; slip rails: c. 1845; slop clothing: 1805; slope: 1852;
slow as a wet week: 1923; sly
grog: 1825; smallgoods: 1865; smalls: 1945;
smoke: 1891; smoke-oh: 1893; smoodger: 1907; snaggers: 1945; snow-dropper: 1827; Snowy Mountains: 1825; Snowy River: 1834; snuffle buster: 1875; soldier settler: 1917; songman: 1949; sool: 1901;
sort: 1945; southerly buster:
1854; sparrow’s fart: 1942; SP bookie: 1920; Speewah: 1892; spider: 1858;
spieler: 1881; spifflicated: 1848; spine bashing: 1941; spitting chips: 1899; spit the dummy: 1979; split: c. 1833; spruik: 1905;
squatter: 1825; squiz: 1905; standover: 1936; station: c. 1860; St George’s Terrace cocky: 1914; sticky beak: 1917; stiffener: 1906; stir the possum: 1894; stock horse: 1837; stock station: 1823; stockwhip: c. 1858; stockyard: c. 1838; stone the crows: 1913; stonkered: 1918; stony: 1899;
stony broke: 1883; storekeeper:
1899; stork (as a bringer of babies):
1920; stoush: 1887; strapped for cash: 1924; stretcher: 1828; strides: 1913; stringybark: 1803; Struth: 1895;
stubby: 1965; stunned mullet:
1902; such is life: 1880; sucked in: 1863; sulky: 1810;
sulky: 1900; sundowner: 1906; sunnies: 1961; suss: 1994;
swag: 1851; swag, humping the:
1851; swag, humping the: 1852; swagman: 1861; swy: 1945;
Sydney Harbour: 1822; Sydney or
the bush: 1849; Sydney side; Sydneysider: 1852; TAFE: 1974;
taipan (snake): 1932; Tallowfat:
1862; tall poppy: 1864; tanks: 1791;
tanks: 1803; tar pot: 1870; tart: 1898;
Tassie: 1878; Taswegian: 1940; tea: 1834;
telephone: 1880; Territorian:
1868; The Ashes: 1882; the pip: 1872; the raw prawn: 1942; The Rocks: 1803; thick as two short planks: 1975; thief: c. 1855; thingummybob: 1945; thongs: 1959;
thumb buster: 1873; tickets of leave:
1806; tickets on self: 1901; tinny (beer): 1976; tinny (boat): 1986; tip the bucket: 1947; tomahawker: 1873; tommy: 1850;
too-hard basket: 1950; too right:
1917; Top End: 1923; track: 1817;
tracky daks: 2000; traps: c. 1831; Traymobile:1919; trey (threepence): 1900; triantelope: c. 1845; troppo: 1942;
truckie: 1945; true blue: 1826; tucker: 1852;
tucker bag: 1871; tucker box:
1867; turn dingo: 1940; turps, on the: 1929; turps, on the: 1962; two-bob watch: 1922; two men and a dog: 1887; two shakes: 1839; two up: 1855;
typhoid fever: 1883; underground
mutton: 1903; under wet cement: 1978; union: 1896;
union camp: 1887; up a gumtree:
1845; up the country: 1788; up the duff: 1975; up the pole: 1915; up the spout: 1832; urger: 1921;
Vandemonian: 1842; veg out: 1986; verandah: 1802; vote with the feet: 1940; waddy: 1801;
wag: 1885; Walers: 1859; walkabout: 1859; wallaby: 1798; wallaby stew: 1859; wallaroo: 1828; wanker: 1974;
waratah: 1797; warrigal: 1841; washing (for gold): 1849; wash house: 1901; water: 1788;
water bag: 1858; wattle: 1789; Wattle Day: 1895; weather-board: 1838; weirdo: 1968;
wet behind the ears: 1935; whacko:
1934; whaler: 1900; wharfie: 1911; wharf lumper: 1875; What do you think this is? Bush week?: 1945; what the cat dragged in: 1923; wheelie bin: 1986; whinger: 1907; whiskers: 1829; white-ant: 1919; white ants: 1804; wide awake hat: 1846; widgie: 1950;
widow maker: 1990; wigwam for a
goose’s bridle: 1916; wilga: 1879; willy-willy: 1875; wire: 1899;
within a bull’s roar: 1934; within
cooee: 1858; wombat: 1799; women in trousers: 1835; Woolloomooloo: 1829; woomera: 1793; Woop Woop: 1910; wouldn’t be dead for quids: 1921; wowser: 1903;
wrinklies: 1969; wurlie: 1839; yabby: 1861;
yacker: 1875; yarraman: 1846; yobbo: 1975; yonks: 1981;
your blood is worth bottling: 1903;
zack (sixpence): 1912; Zambuck:
1926; zonked: 1943;