A Dictionary of Australian Words and Terms was written by Gilbert H. Lawson, published in the 1920’s in Sydney, Australia.
This book is a reference work with definitions of Australian words and phrases that were normally non-existent in the English language. It includes 4500 Aussie words and terms, with their meanings and variations.
Although this dictionary is over 80 years old, it gives you a glimpse into the way people spoke in that era. Some words have the same meaning today, while others may have changed or are seldom used anymore.
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If you’re reading Australian literature from this time period and earlier, such as works by Banjo Paterson, you may find this dictionary very helpful.
A B C D EF G H IJ K L M N0 P QR S T UVWXYZ
| – U – | |
| Umbrella-bush | a small bushy tree used for hedges |
| Umpteen | an indefinite number |
| Upper cut | an upward blow |
| Uppish | proud |
| Up the spout | in trouble |
| Up to putty | no good |
| Up to us | our duty |
| Urger | a fraudulent race follower |
| – V – | |
| Vag, on the | liable under the vagrancy act |
| Vaseline | butter |
| – W – | |
| Wad | a number of notes |
| Waddy | aboriginal war implement |
| Wagtail | a small black bird with occasional white feathers, long and fan-shaped tail, which it habitually jerks about |
| Wallaby | small type of kangaroo. There are many species. |
| Wallaby, on the | carrying the swag. |
| Wallaroo | aboriginal name for large black kangaroo. |
| Wallop | a hard hit. |
| Waratah | bright crimson flower about three inches in diameter; emblematic of Australia. |
| Warrigal | aboriginal word meaning dog, also wild. |
| Washout | a failure. |
| Waterworks, to turn on the |
to cry. |
| Wattle | species of acacia. The national flower. |
| Wayback | an Australian resident living far removed from townships and not versed in city customs. |
| Weed | tobacco. |
| Well in | affluent; wealthy |
| Welsher | a fraudulent bookmaker. |
| Welter, to make it | to be excessive. |
| Wet, to get | become annoyed. |
| Whack | sufficiency of drink |
| Whip the cat | to regret. |
| Wild turkey | a fawn-coloured bird, with full throat, resembling the domestic turkey in shape, with flesh equally palatable. |
| Willy-Willy | aboriginal name for whirlwind. |
| Wind-bag | talkative person |
| Wind-up | afraid |
| Wise-head | a knowing individual. |
| Wise, to get | aware of. |
| Wombat | a burrowing marsupial with thick heavy body, short legs, rudimentary tail and in general form resembling a small bear. |
| Womerah | aboriginal name for a throwing stick. |
| – Y – | |
| Yabby | a small burrowing crawfish, found in most creeks and water-holes in Australia |
| Yacker | hard work |
| Yap | talkative |
| Yarrah | aboriginal name for species of eucalyptus |
| Yowling | weeping. |
| – Z – | |
| Zack | sixpence |
| Ziff | beard |
