rowing in very poor soil and under
harsh rainfall conditions. Usually many stems emerging from the
ground, creating a low thicket.
mateship: See Lawson story, "Mateship". A heavily romanticised,
but nevertheless very practical form of (male) loyalty to a (male)
companion who travels with/works with him. A "mate" provides not
only companionship, but help in emergencies. Typical of an
Australian in the "outback"--or "Never-Never", or under war
conditions. A man without a mate was a "hatter"--"his hat
covers his family". Such a person might go "ratty" (see further
in The romance of the Swag).
Equivalent to the "buddy system" in SCUBA diving.
metalled: of a road, covered in crushed rock (e.g. "blue metal")
mulga: Acacia sp. ("wattle" in Australian) especially Acacia aneura;
growing in semi-desert conditions. Used as a description of such
a harsh region.
mullock: the tailings left after gold has been removed. In Lawson
generally mud (alluvial) rather than rock
myall: aboriginal living in a traditional--pre-conquest--manner
nobbler: a drink
nuggety: compact but strong physique; small but well-muscled
pastoralist: OED sees it a equivalent to "squatter", but in
Lawson someone often someone managing a large cattle/sheep
"station" for a "pastoral company" rather than an individual.
Seen as ultimate capitalist oppression.
pluddy: see crimson
quid: monetary unit; one pound
ratty: insane--or, very eccentric, "cranky".
ringer: the champion sheep shearer in a shed that season
rouseabout: Labourer in a (sheep) shearing shed. Considered to be,
as far as any work is, unskilled labour.
sawney: silly, gormless
scab: see blackleg
shout: In a group; to stand (pay for) a round of drinks. Bad form
to leave before your turn comes around. Much peer pressure to
drink more than one wished. One can also "shout" for everyone
in the pub.
skillion(-room): A "lean-to", a room built up against the back of
some other building, with separate roof.
spifflicated: punished, thrashed without mercy.
spree: prolonged drinking bout--days, weeks.
squatter: Someone who took up large areas of land, originally without
official permission ("squatted"), for sheep especially. Became
the "landed aristocracy" of Australia.
("Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred