Show wnntaTERMS t USED Iff AUSTRALIA n gro Cockatoo is a word of varied means mean-s In Australia It was originally a enoc ntemptuous nickname for the small Bstrallan farmer but was gradually oil a epted as a synonym for that class 5e jocky says Prof Morris is a com lit a1 pn abbreviation Anthony Trollopo ford omitted a good many blunders In I R book describing his Australian ou r ur One of them was his definition cockatoo It signifies that the roe an does not really till his land but fa t Ely scratches It as the bird does A itlc gives this as the true cxplana fm About ISfiO when tho great rush dui mr the gold fields had ceased immix immi-x ants turned to the land swarmed all ier the country and ate up tho sub ortma ance of tho squatters who likened are pom to an Invasion of devastating In R Brds and christened them cocka I os By 1SG7 the word had traveled I for t New Zealand for Lady Barker au a to tor of Station Life in Now Zealand me o riling in that year remarked I a itve heard a man say in answer to a ftiestlon about his occupation Im a aou rlta too elf t Bushrangeranother Instance of Australian slangIs a curious case of verbal degradation From an etymological etymo-logical point of view there Is no reason rea-son why bushranger should not be as respectable a word as parkranger In the early Australian newspapers such advertisements as Wanted a good bushranger were quite common Tho word then meant an experienced hush man But when tho bush bocamu time refuge of robbers of banks mall coaches coach-es and lucky diggers the word acquired ac-quired thc sinister meaning that It now possesses brigand outlaw desperado A swagman or swaggle so called rom the swag or personal luggage wrapped up In a blanket strapped to his back is a genuine Australian traveler In search of work but a sundowner Is the antipodean professional tramp The sundowner strolls from one squatters station to another always taking care to arrive at sunset for it Is the traditional practice prac-tice of Australian squatters to glvo food and shelter to all comers for tho night |