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The Mudcat Cafesj


Aussie Glossary

contains exact

Aussie English
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Aussie Words Definitions Comments
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  
nick out Go somewhere for short period of time  
nipper Young surf lifesaver Also any youngster (generally male)
nit Fool or idiot Also nitwit
no hoper Hopeless case  
no shortage of oscar To be flush with money  
no worries! Everything will be fine!  
no-hoper Somebody who'll never do well  
nobbler Glass or drink of liquor  
noise off Speak loudly  
north island Mainland Australia, according to someone in Tasmania  
northern summer Summer in the Northern Hemisphere  
not the full quid Not bright intellectually  
nuddy, in the Naked  
nulla-nulla Wooden club used by Aborigines  
num-nums Tasty food  
ocker Uncultivated or boorish Australian  
off-sider Assistant or partner  
oil Information  
old man Large (animal) as in 'old man kangaroo … by tranference (and pidgin use?) = large Old Man Plain', in "Across the Western Plains", means 'the big, wide plain'.
oldies Parents - "I'll have to ask my oldies"  
on a good lurk To have a good job  
open slather Without restrictions  
OS Overseas  
outback The bush, or uncivilised uninhabited region  
overlander A drover, herding cattle or sheep hundreds of miles over land  
owyergoin How are you going? Often used with "g'day" and "Mate"  
oy! An ocker's call; hey!  
oyo On your own (flat or apartment)  
Oz Australia, as in Oz-tralia  
packed out Filled to capacity  
packet Large some of money, an envelope  
paddock Field or meadow In Australia, that COULD be 1000 square miles!
pademelon, paddymelon Small (potorid) wallaby … Aboriginal word (Dharuk - 'badimaliyan') Confused with inedible African cucurbit, growing feral in Australia - 'Paddymelon'
pally On friendly terms with  
paper yabber Letter  
parcel Package  
pash Passion, infatuation  
pastoralist Large-scale grazier  
patent pill machine Revolver Image goes back to loading a cap-and-ball revolver
pav Pavlova - a rich, creamy Australian dessert  
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List Full Glossary

Many thanks to John in Brisbane for this concept and the initial data, and to Bob Bolton for additions and comments.