Many Distinctive Australian Words Have Been Driven to Or Near To
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Many distinctive Australian words have been driven to or near to extinction in recent decades under the homogenising influence of mass media and imported culture, because of changes in fashion, or have fallen into disuse as society changes. Those who like or use these words regret their passing but informal vocabulary is by nature ephemeral. Others who use these words do so ironically. Some examples: . around the traps – around one's usual haunts. Formerly quite common, but now declining. It was famously used by ARL boss Ken Arthurson when news of a Super league was emerging in Rugby League during the 90's, "Word around the traps". Bodgie – a male member of a 1950s rock 'n' roll subculture, somewhat similar to the US greasers and British rockers. Now only historical. bonzer – excellent (almost extinct). Probably from the Spanish word bonanza, by way of American English. Also spelt bonza. cobber – friend, mate, "G'day, cobber". Not frequently used. cooee! – a shouted greeting or long-distance contact call, used as when searching for a lost person, esp. in the bush. Also in the colloquial phrase "not within cooee", meaning "a long way off". Used in conversation to recapture the attention of someone you were talking to. "Cooeee Brian, are you listening?" Once ubiquitous, now becoming less common. traps, trappers or jacks – police. These Australianisms have been largely replaced by the international cops, coppers, pigs or bacon. However the older, more affectionate wallopers is also still used. drongo – an idiot (usage in decline). Either referring to the drongo bird which have extravagantly flared tails and cavort noisily in groups as part of their mating habits, but also, possibly an indirect derivation, from the name of a remarkably unsuccessful racehorse. furphy – a lie or rumour. Furphy was the supplier of water carts to the Australian Army in World War I. Much like modern day water coolers, the carts became meeting points and rumour mills. galah – a fool (survives, but in decline), from the bird. Almost always used in combination with 'bloody'. "You bloody galah!" (You bloody idiot!) This word has been used in commercials against drunk driving; "Don't be a galah!".Alf Stewart . map of Tassie – Female pubic hair. Tassie being short for Tasmania and used for the general similarity in shape of the map to this part of the anatomy. First appears in the 1980s. Not in common usage, but stable. Mollydooker – a left handed person. Nasho – adjective and noun, pertaining to National Service or conscription for military service esp. in 1960s. Sharpie – member of a 1960s and 1970s teenage subculture. Probably from "sharply dressed" and/or a reference to the use of knives. struth! (sometimes spelt strewth) – expression of shock or dismay (replaced by stronger expletives such as "fuck!" or "shit!"). Possibly of Shakespearean origin, "God's Truth". Also used in Britain. Other older expletives of English origin such as "cripes", "my oath" and "blimey" are also dying out. warrigal – a dingo, or any wild thing. Widgie – female Bodgie (see above). wowser – a killjoy or puritan. Still used but in decline. Appendix:Australian English placeholders Australians use a number of placeholders for objects the names of which are unknown or forgotten. doover – perhaps from "It'll do for now." . doover-malaky . doover-lacky . doover-whatsit . hoosey-whatsit . thingo . thingie . thingamajig . thingameebob . thingummy . whatsit . whatsername/whatsisname . wadjamacallit . whatserface/whatsisface Appendix:Australian English colloquial proper nouns The shortening the names of places, people, companies, etc. is a common feature of Australian English vocabulary. This is often done through the use of diminutives. The given names Darren and Sharon, for example are shortened to Dazza and Shazza respectively. The Western Australian Cricket Association and the Perth cricket ground becomes WACA (pronounced IPA: /wæk.ə/), McDonald's restaurant becomes Macca's (pronounced IPA: /'mæk.əz/) and Woolies (as in "I'm just going to pick up some milk from Woolies") is the affectionate term given to the chain of Woolworths supermarkets. Contents 1 General 2 Nationalities 3 Alcohol/Tobacco 4 Shortened band names 5 State names for people 6 Place names 7 Sporting Teams o 7.1 General o 7.2 AFL o 7.3 VFL o 7.4 Cricket o 7.5 NRL o 7.6 NBL o 7.7 Soccer 8 See also General . ambos - paramedics (from "ambulance") . arvo/arvie - afternoon . bottle-o - bottle-shop, liquor store . Ekka - the Brisbane Exhibition, an annual show . rego - (vehicle) registration (fee) . servo - service station . Vee Dub - Volkswagen . Vinnie's - St. Vincent De Paul's (charity thrift stores and hostels) . Winnies - Winfield Cigarettes . Woolies - Woolworth's Supermarkets Nationalities . Aussie - Australian . Kiwi - New Zealander . Saffa - South African . Yank - American . Pom or Pome - English Alcohol/Tobacco . Dunnie - Dunhill Cigarettes . TED - Tooheys Extra Dry, beer . Vomit Beer - Victoria Bitter, beer; a play on the acronym "VB" due to it's strong taste. Paley and 'Sparkles for Coopers Pale Ale and Cooper Sparkling beer; typically restricted to South Australia . Winnie - Winfield Cigarettes Shortened band names Australian youths and general Australian music fans have a long tradition of shortening popular band names. Acca Dacca - AC/DC . The Finger - Powderfinger . The Oils (or just Oils) - Midnight Oil . Chisel - Cold Chisel . The Chair - Silverchair . The Crowdies - Crowded House . Barnesey - Jimmy Barnes . Farnesy - John Farnham . The Gurge - Regurgitator . Foxy - Robin Fox . The Puppies - Sick Puppies . Grinners or The Spoon - Grinspoon . The Mentals - Mental As Anything . Hunters or Hunnas - Hunters & Collectors . The Gurus - Hoodoo Gurus . The Singing Budgie - Kylie Minogue . SFK - Something For Kate . The Homos - The Homicides . True Rad - True Radical Miracle . The Bait - Spiderbait . Jebs - Jebediah . Eskies - Eskimo Joe . JBT - John Butler Trio . The Gunners - Guns N' Roses . The Weddos - Weddings Parties Anything State names for people The colloquial name associated to people born and raised in that state. Northen Territory - Territorians . NSW - Cockroaches . Queensland - Banana Benders . South Australia - Crow Eaters . Tasmania - Taswegians . Victoria - Vics, Mexicans . Western Australia - Sand Gropers Place names As with other proper nouns, place names are commonly shortened through the use of diminutives. Australia is, itself, often shortened to Oz, or alternately, Stralya (see also Aussie). In some cases, colloquialisms have developed in reference to certain characteristics of the area. Australia is often referred to as Down Under because of its geographical location on a globe; this term (which can also include New Zealand) was popularized by the song Down Under, by Australian band Men at Work. Australia's Little Brother - New Zealand . Balga North - Clarkson, Western Australia (derogatory) - refers to both Balga's down- market reputation and Clarkson's outer northern location. Barker - Mount Barker, Western Australia . Basso w:Bassendean, Western Australia . Baulko – Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, also refers to Baulkham Hills High School . Bello - Bellingen, New South Wales . Belly South - Belgrave South, Victoria . Benders or The 'Go - Bendigo, Victoria . The Berra - Canberra . Bevo - Beverly Hills, New South Wales . Belco - Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory, usually in reference to Westfield Belconnen . Bilo - Biloela, Queensland . Blacky - Blackburn, Victoria, in particular Blackburn High School; and can also be "Blacky Maccas" referring to the McDonalds restaurant on Blackburn Road . Bok Choy - Box Hill, Victoria. Boot Hill - Box Hill, Victoria. Generally used by the Victorian Ambulance Service to refer to Box Hill Hospital. Broady - Broadmeadows, Victoria . Bundo - Bundeena, New South Wales . Bundy – Bundaberg, Queensland, also refers to Bundaberg Rum . Bunno - Bunbury, Western Australia . Burra - Korumburra, Victoria . Burwog - Burwood, New South Wales . Busso - Busselton, Western Australia . Brissie, Brissy or Brizzie – Brisbane, Queensland . Brisvegas – Brisbane, Queensland, in reference to Las Vegas, Nevada . Brisneyland - Brisbane, Queensland, in reference to Disneyland . Brisangeles - Brisbane, Queensland, in reference to Los Angeles referring to the large scale linear development . Broady - Broadmeadows, Victoria . Brookie - Brookvale, New South Wales . Brunny - Brunswick, Victoria . Byron – Byron Bay, New South Wales . Cabra or Cab or Stabramatta or Vietnamatta – Cabramatta, New South Wales, in reference to the high Vietnamese-immigrant population . Campo – Camperdown, New South Wales . Carlo – Carlingford, New South Wales . Chaddy - Chadstone, Victoria, usually in reference to Chadstone Shopping Centre . Chatty, Chatswong - Chatswood, New South Wales . Chaps - Chapel Street, Melbourne . Charlie - Charlestown, New South Wales, specifically Charlestown Square Shopping Complex . Charny - Charnwood, Australian Capital Territory . Cheso or Chezzo - Chester Hill, New South Wales . Chezza or The Brook or Chinabrook or Chellyblook - Cherrybrook, New South Wales . Chiggers - Chigwell, Tasmania . Chingvale Road - Springvale Road . Clownsville - Townsville, Queensland . Coffs – Coffs Harbour, New South Wales . Coolies - Coolbellup or Cooloongup, two suburbs of Perth, Western Australia . Cranny - Cranbourne, Victoria . Crowie – Crows Nest, New South Wales, also refers to Crows Nest TAFE and the Crows Nest Hotel . Croyds - Croydon, Victoria . Curly - Curl Curl, New