Logophiles will recall the nice thread we had on Australian words a few weeks ago. Well, I've read another book by the same author, Kerry Greenwood. Again it's set in Melbourne, but this time the time is 1928. So now the words are long ago and far away, at least from me. Again, feel free to explain or discuss the words I found novel.

1. The main character, Phryne, is examining an old Worth gown on the rag & bones man's cart.

'How much would you charge for it in the shop?'
'Two pounds, maybe three if the customer was exigent. Solly [owner] believes in spoiling the Egyptians.'

Egyptians?

2. An old sailor says 'the cook locked me in the stokehole when I went troppo.'

Troppo? any relation to 'allegro non troppo'?

3. Both he and Bert were fast asleep before he could start the bonzer new taxi.

Bonzer?

4. He did a sneak on us and got on the Fitzroy cocktails.

F. cocktails?

5. We should have turned him over to the Salvos.

6. Dot shrugged. 'The only cocktails I ever heard about were Mr. Butler's - onions, frankfurters and hats.'

Do people in Australia really eat hats?

7. Then they [pirates] take up a cargo contract from Honkers, say, they deliver it and then they sell the ship.'

Honkers?

8. It's not a bad waratah,' he said grudgingly, inspecting the drawing.

What's a waratah?