| Aussie Words |
Definitions |
Comments |
| icy pole |
Popsicle, lollypop |
Ice block, where I came from |
| identity |
Celebrity |
|
| iffy |
Doubtful, questionable |
|
| illywacker |
A con man who preyed on the gullible at country shows/fairs |
|
| in full feather |
In fine health |
|
| in yer boot! |
An expression of disagreement (archaic) |
|
| it's a goer |
Something that will definitely occur |
|
| Jack Shay (Jack Shea) |
Quart pot, metal drinking vessel / container |
Rhymes (to the Irish) with tea (pot) |
| jack-in-the-box |
Person who can't sit still |
|
| jackaroo |
A male station hand (a station is a big farm/grazing property) |
In station life, Jackaroo has long meant an Englishman getting 'colonial experience' (often not paid … but ate with the magager, not the men!) [Originally, ie very early colonial, it meant a white man living beyond the boundary of settlement - possibly Aboriginal word 'dhugai-iu', (Jagara)] |
| jillaroo |
A female station hand |
|
| jingoes! |
Exclamation of wonder |
|
| jocks |
Men's or boys' underpants |
|
| Joe Blake |
Snake (rhyming) |
|
| Joe Bloggs |
The average citizen |
|
| joey |
Baby kangaroo, still in the pouch |
Originally baby possum - trans. to kangaroo, then any young marsupial … eventually comes to mean child! |
| johnny cake |
Small, thin, loaf of damper (bush bread) |
Trans. from US flat oat cake |
| journo |
Journalist |
|
| jumbuck |
Sheep |
Probably an Aboriginal word for 'cloud' or 'mist' (a distant mob of sheep?) |
| jumped-up |
Full of self-importance; arrogant |
|
| kanga or kangaroo |
Shoe |
|
| keen as mustard |
Enthusiastic |
|
| kelpie |
Australian sheepdog originally bred from Scottish collie |
Breed is descended from champion short-haired collie named 'Kelpie' |
| kerb |
Alternative Australian and British spelling of "curb" |
|
| kerbside quiche |
Vomit |
|
| kerfuffle |
Argument |
|
| kero |
Kerosene |
|
| kick |
To share or join in |
|
| kick-in |
To provide your share |
|
| kindie |
Kindergarten |
|
| king brown |
Type of venomous snake or tall bottle of beer |
|
| kip |
Sleep or nap |
|
| kiwi |
New zealander |
|
| knackered |
Worn out, rooted |
|
| knackers |
Testicles (also love spuds, nuts, nads) |
|
| knock |
To criticise |
|
| knock back |
Refusal (noun), refuse (transitive verb) |
|
| knocker |
One who criticises |
|
| kombi |
Multi-purpose van-like vehicle, often modified so the back seats were folded dow |
|
| koori |
Aborigine (mostly south of the Murray River) |
Also all of NSW (except for Yuin in south east) ... Murri -then Bama to north in Queensland - Yura, then Nunga to west, in South Australia |
| lair |
Layabout, hooligan |
|
| lairise |
To behave in a vulgar, flamboyant manner |
|
| lamb-brained |
Stupid |
|
| lamington |
Sponge cake cut into squares, covered in chocolate and coconut |
|
| larrikin |
Ruffian or hoodlum, but viewed with some admiration |
|
| lay-by |
To put a deposit on an article so a shop will hold it |
|
| licensed |
Legally permitted to sell alcoholic drinks |
|
| like a bandicoot on a burnt ridge |
Lonely and vulnerable |
|
| lingo |
The language |
|
| lippy |
Lipstick |
|
| liquid laugh |
Vomit |
|
| lob, lob in |
Drop in to see someone ("the rellies have lobbed") |
|
| lollies |
Candy or sweets |
|
| lolly |
Money |
|
| London to a brick |
Absolute certainty ("it's London to a brick that taxes won't go down") |
|
| loo |
Lavatory or toilet |
English, 19th c. (Water)loo |
| lot |
The whole thing |
|
| lubra |
Aboriginal woman |
Aboriginal word (se Tasmania) 'lubara' |
| lucky country, the |
Australia, where else? |
|
| lurk |
Scheme, sometimes viewed with envy |
|
| ma stater |
Resident of New South Wales |
|
| mad |
Crazy (seldom means anger) |
|
| Mallee |
Remote bushland of Victoria, low scrub |
|
| manchester |
Household linen |
|
| mate |
This usually means a friend but it can be used to talk about or to anyone - even |
|
| mate's rate, mate's discount |
Cheaper than usual for a "friend" |
|
| matey with |
Familiar or friendly with |
|
| matilda |
The belongings of a swagman, wrapped in a blanket or bedroll |
|
| meat safe |
Ventilated fly-proof cage for storing meat carcasses without refrigeration |
|
| merino |
Breed of sheep with fine strands of fleece |
|
| metho |
Methylated spirits |
Denatured alcohol/rubbing alcohol |
| Mexican |
A person from south of the (Queensland) border |
|
| mickey mouse |
Excellent, very good |
|
| middy |
285 ml beer glass (New South Wales) |
|
| milk bar |
Corner general store |
Not NSW usage - corner shop had to have milk licence, but a 'milk bar' was principally a (milk & soft) drink shop … almost = US "drug store" |
| milko |
Milkman |
|
| mob |
Family or herd (?) of kangaroos / herd of sheep or cattle |
(transference ?) |
| mob |
Group of person or things (not necessarily unruly) |
|
| moke |
Horse (not a good one!) |
Original meaning was donkey |
| mole (native) |
Platypus … to a Pom who isn't any sort of naturalist |
|
| moleskin(s) |
Trousers of moleskin (untwilled cotton fustian fabric) |
Typical sailors' wear on British sailing ships |
| moll |
Girl(friend), disreputable girl, tart, Dona |
|
| mongrel |
Despicable person |
|
| mopoke |
Australian bird ninox novaeseelaniae - in the owl family, but more like a sturdy |
|
| mozzie |
Mosquito |
|
| muddy |
Mud crab (a great delicacy) |
|
| mug |
Friendly insult ("have a go, yer mug"), gullible person |
|
| mug |
One's face |
|
| mull |
Grass (the kind you smoke) |
|
| mull up |
Roll a joint and smoke it |
|
| murphy |
Potato |
|
| naff |
Ridiculous, useless |
|
| nana |
Banana |
|
| nark |
Spoilsport |
|
| narked |
Annoyed |
|
| naughty, have a |
Have sex |
|
| neddies |
Horses |
|
| Never Never |
The Outback, centre of Australia |
|
| new chum |
New arrival or immigrant |
|
| nick |
To steal |
|
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