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Australian Slang

word, native, horse, sheep, citizen and bush

AUSTRALIAN SLANG Abo, aboriginal, a journalese term. man.

Aussie, an Australian citizen and, Chow, a Chinese.

during the World War, espe- Coo-ee, the Australian hail (na cially, an Australian soldier. tive word).

Baal, a term of dislike (native Cornstalk, a citizen of New South word). Wales.

Back-blocks, inland settlements Corroboree, a noise, uproar (na and towns. tive word).

Bananalander, a Queensland citi- Cossie, a swimming costume.

zen. Creek, a stream, brook. Billabong, a small off-shoot from Damper, a large scone. a river which in wet weather Digger, friend, comrade, rejoins the main stream lower Diggings, a gold-mining centre.

down. Dilly-bag, a small domestic bag. Billy or Billy-Can, a tin container Dingo, a native dog.

used for cooking purposes. Dinkum, true ; genuine. Blackfellow, an Australian aborig- Fossicker, one who looks for gold ine. in rocky crevices.

Bluey, a swagman's blanket. Gazob, a fool.

Bonzer, something good—satisfac- Gin, a native woman.

tory. Groper, a West Australian.

Bosker, adjective of Bonzer. Gully, a rugged valley.

Boss-Cockie, a small farmer em- Gum-sucker, a citizen of Victoria.

ploying labour, but also work- Hard-hitter, a bowler hat, a ing himself. derby.

Brumby, a wild horse. Hide, impudence, cheek.

buckjumper, a refractory horse. Humpy, a hut.

Budgeree, good or palatable Jackaroo, a young man of good (native word). position who joins a station to Bush, woods, forest. learn sheep and cattle farming.

Bushranger, an armed highway- Joey, a young kangaroo.

John, a policeman. Shelf, an informer.

J umbuck, sheep. Shicker, intoxicants, "booze." Kid-stakes, foolery. Shielah, a girl.

Knock-down, an introduction. Springer, a cow approaching the Larrikin, a hooligan. milking period.

Lolly, a sweetmeat. Squirt, a revolver.

Lubra, an aboriginal woman. Squatter, a "pastoralist" ; an own Mauldy, left-handed. er of a sheep- or cattle-run.

Maorilander, a New Zealander. Station, a cattle-run—sheep-run. Never-never, remote unsettled dis- Sticky-beak, an inquisitive person.

tricts. Stockman, a man in charge of Nuggety, short and sturdy. cattle on a run.

Orchardist, a fruit-grower. Sundowner, an outback Swag Outback, districts far inland from man ; see SWAGGIE.

the coast. Swag, a bundle containing tent, Outer, a betting ground overlook- blanket, etc.

ing a racecourse. Swaggie, a sundowner ; a wan Outlaw, a savage horse. derer with his kit, tramping Overlander, a drover taking cattle from place to place.

from one state to another. Take-down, a thief—a cheat.

Poddy, a land-fed calf. Tipslinger, a racecourse tipster.

Pointer, an opportunist who takes To go bung, to collapse financially mean advantages. (as a bank).

Possie, a job. To shake, to steal.

Push, a band of larrikins. To sling off, to poke fun at.

Ready up, a conspiracy. To sool, to urge on, as dogs.

Ringer, the quickest shearer of a Too right, a term of agreement gang. Tray-bit, a threepenny bit. Rouse-about, an odd-job man in Trooper, a mounted policeman.

a shearing shed. Tucker, food.

Run, a track of grazing land. Waddy, a heavy stick or club.

Scrub, a stretch of bush under- Woop-woop, a New South Wales growth. word for country districts.

Shake-down, a makeshift bed. Wowser, a straight-laced person.

Shanghai, a catapult. Yabber, to talk (native word).

Shanty, (a) a crude hut ; (b) a Yacker, work (native word). "sly-grog" shop in the bush. A Yarraman, a horse (native word).

"blind tiger" or "speak-easy." Ziff, a beard.

See Jice Doone, Timely Tips for New Australians, London, n.d.