Austral English: A Dictionary of Australasian Words, Phrases and UsagesEdward Morris (1843-1902), Professor of Modern Languages at Melbourne University, contributed material on 'words peculiar to Australia' to the OED. He expanded that research into this dictionary of the English spoken in Australasia, first published in 1898. Morris was able to draw on existing scholarly studies of Maori loan words in the language of settlers in New Zealand, but was the first to give detailed attention to the influence of Australian Aboriginal languages and list early appearances in English of words such as 'cooee' and 'boomerang'. The book also includes English words that developed Australasia-specific meanings to describe local flora, fauna and social conditions, and new scientific words such as 'eucalypt'. Morris' pioneering work provides unique insights into the development of English in Australia and New Zealand, and remains of interest not only to linguists but also to historians of Australasia and the British empire in the late Victorian period. |
Other editions - View all
Austral English: A Dictionary of Australasian Words, Phrases and Usages (G-O) Edward E. Morris No preview available - 2009 |
Austral English: A Dictionary of Australasian Words, Phrases and Usages (A-F) Edward E. Morris No preview available - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
A. B. Paterson A. C. Grant aboriginal aboriginal name aboriginal word Acacia animal Antipodes Argus Australasia Australia Felix bark Benth Birds of Australia Botany bush called cattle colonists colony colour common Cunn Diemen's Land E. J. Wakefield E. W. Hornung Eucalyptus feet fish flowers forest fruit genus Gould grass ground Günth Hook horse Howitt Ibid Island J. E. Tenison-Woods J. H. Maiden kangaroo known larrikin Lath Leichhardt Linn Maori name Maori word marsupial Melbourne Myrtacea N.O. Myrtacea name given name is applied Native Plants North Island opossum Overland Expe Port Phillip Queensland quotation R. M. Praed R.Br resemblance River Rolf Boldrewood scientific name scrub settlers sheep shrub slang South Australia South Wales squatters Sydney Tasmania Tea-tree term timber tion tralia Van Diemen's Land Victoria Voyage Wallaby Wattle Western Australia wild wood Zealand Zealand Institute