There are three views as to the origin of the word, viz.--_Austral English

(1) That it is a phonetic spelling of the broad Irish

pronunciation, with a trilled r of the word

larking. The story goes that a certain Sergeant Dalton,

about the year 1869, charged a youthful prisoner at the

Melbourne Police Court with being "a-larrr-akin' about

the streets." The Police Magistrate, Mr. Sturt, did not quite

catch the word--"A what, Sergeant?"--"A larrikin', your

Worchup." The police court reporter used the word the next day

in the paper, and it stuck. (See quotation, `Argus,' 1896.)

This story is believed by 99 persons out of 100; unfortunately

it lacks confirmation; for the record of the incident cannot

be discovered, after long search in files by many people. Mr.

Skeat's warning must be remembered--"As a rule, derivations which

require a story to be told turn out to be false."

(2) That the word is thieves' English, promoted like

swag, plant, lift, etc., into ordinary

Australian English. Warders testify that for a number of years

before the word appeared in print, it was used among criminals

in gaol as two separate words, viz.--leary ('cute, fly,

knowing), and kinchen (youngster),--`leary kinchen

,'--shortened commonly into `leary kin' and

`leary kid.' Australian warders and constables are

Irish, almost to a man. Their pronunciation of `leary

kin' would be very nearly `lairy kin,' which becomes

the single word larrikin. (See quotation, 1871.) It is

possible that Sergeant Dalton used this expression and was

misunderstood by the reporter.

(3) The word has been derived from the French larron

(a thief), which is from the Latin latronem (a robber).

This became in English larry, to which the English

diminutive, kin, was added; although this etymology is

always derided in Melbourne.

1870. `The Daily Telegraph' (Melbourne), Feb. 7, p. 2, col. 3:

"We shall perhaps begin to think of it in earnest, when we

have insisted upon having wholesome and properly baked bread,

or a better supply of fish, and when we have put down the

`roughs' and `larrikins.'"

1870. `The Age,' Feb. 8, p. 3, col. 1:

"In sentencing a gang of `larrikins' who had been the terror

of Little Bourke-street and its neighbourhood for several hours

on Saturday night, Mr. Call remarked. . ."

1870. `The Herald,' April 4, p.3, col. 2:

". . . three larikins who had behaved in a very disorderly manner

in Little Latrobe-street, having broken the door of a house and

threatened to knock out the eye of one of the inmates."

1870. Marcus Clarke, `Goody Two Shoes,' p. 26:

"He's a lively little larrikin lad, and his name is

Little Boy Blue."

1871. `The Argus,' Sept. 19, p.5, col. 4:

"In San Francisco, the vagabond juveniles who steal, smash

windows, and make themselves generally obnoxious to the

respectable inhabitants, instead of being termed `larrikins,'

as in Victoria, are denominated `hoodleums.' The name is more

musical than the one in vogue here, and probably equally as

descriptive, as its origin appears to be just as obscure as

that of the word `larrikin.' This word, before it got into

print, was confined to the Irish policemen, who generally

pronounced it `lerrikan,' and it has been suggested that the

term is of Hibernian origin, and should be spelt lerrichaun.'"

1871. Sir George Stephen, Q.C., `Larrikinism,' a Lecture

reported in `Prahran Telegraph,' Sept. 23, p. 3, col. 1:

What is Larrikinism? It is a modern word of which I can only

guess the derivation, . . . nor can I find any among the

erudite professors of slang who adorn our modern literature who

can assist me. Some give our police the credit of coining it

from the `larking' of our school boys, but I am inclined to

think that the word is of Greek origin--Laros, a

cormorant--though immediately derived from the French

`larron' which signifies a thief or rogue. If I am

right, then larrikin is the natural diminutive form in English

phraseology for a small or juvenile thief. . . . This however

is, I must acknowledge, too severe a construction of the term,

even if the derivation is correct; for I was myself, I frankly

confess it, an unquestionable larrikin between 60 and 70 years

ago. . . . Larrikinism is not thieving, though a road that

often leads to it. . . . Is it a love of mischief for

mischief's sake? This is the theory of the papers, and is

certainly a nearer approach to the true solution."

1871. `Figaro,' in `Prahran Telegraph,' Sept. 30, p. 7,

col. 3:

"A local contemporary has . . . done his `level best' to help

me out of my `difficulty' with respect to the word Larrikin.

He suggests that lerrichan should read leprichaun

, a mischievous sprite, according to Irish tradition. . . .

We think we may with more safety and less difficulty trace the

word to the stereotype [sic] reply of the police to the

magisterial question--`What was he doing when you apprehended

him?' `Oh! larriking (larking) about, yer Wurtchip.'"

1872. J. S. Elkington, `Tenth Report of Education,

Victoria,' dated Feb. 14:

"My inquiries into the origin and habits of that troublesome

parasite the larrikin (if I may adopt Constable Dalton's term)

do not make me sanguine that compulsory primary instruction can

do much for him, unless indirectly."

1875. `Spectator' (Melbourne), May 15, p. 21, col. 3:

"On Sunday night an unfortunate Chinaman was so severely

injured by the Richmond larrikins that his life was

endangered."

1875. David Blair, in `Notes and Queries,' July 24, p. 66:

"Bedouins, Street Arabs, Juvenile Roughs in London; Gamins

in Paris; Bowery Boys in New York; Hoodlums to San

Francisco; Larrikins in Melbourne. This last phrase is an

Irish constable's broad pronunciation of `larking' applied to

the nightly street performances of these young scamps, here as

elsewhere, a real social pestilence."

1885. H. Finch-Hatton, `Advance Australia,' p. 338:

"There is not a spare piece of ground fit for a pitch anywhere

round Melbourne that is not covered with `larrikins' from six

years old upwards."

1889. Rev. J. H. Zillmann, `Australian Life,' p. 159:

"It has become the name for that class of roving vicious young

men who prowl about public-houses and make night hideous in

some of the low parts of our cities. There is now the bush

`larrikin' as well as the town `larrikin,' and it would be

difficult sometimes to say which is the worse. Bush

`larrikins' have gone on to be bushrangers."

1890. `The Argus,' May 26, p. 6, col. 7:

"He was set upon by a gang of larrikins, who tried to rescue

the prisoner."

1891. `Harper s Magazine,' July, p. 215, col. 2:

"The Melbourne `larrikin' has differentiated himself from the

London `rough,' and in due season a term had to be developed to

denote the differentiation."

1893. `Sydney Morning Herald,' Aug. 12, p. 13, col. 2:

"Robert Louis Stevenson, in a recent novel, `The Wrecker,'

makes the unaccountable mistake of confounding the unemployed

Domain loafer with the larrikin. This only shows that Mr.

Stevenson during his brief visits to Sydney acquired but a

superficial knowledge of the underlying currents of our social

life."

1896. J. St. V. Welch, in `Australasian Insurance and Banking

Record,' May 19, p. 376:

"Whence comes the larrikin? that pest of these so-called

over-educated colonies; the young loafer of from sixteen to

eight-and-twenty. Who does not know him, with his weedy,

contracted figure; his dissipated pimply face; his greasy

forelock brushed flat and low over his forehead; his too small

jacket; his tight-cut trousers; his high-heeled boots; his

arms--with out-turned elbows--swinging across his stomach as he

hurries along to join his `push,' as he calls the pack in which

he hunts the solitary citizen---a pack more to be dreaded on a

dark night than any pack of wolves--and his name in Sydney is

legion, and in many cases he is a full-fledged voter."

1896. W. H. Whelan, in `The Argus,' Jan. 7, p. 6, col. 3:

"Being clerk of the City Court, I know that the word originated

in the very Irish and amusing way in which the then well-known

Sergeant Dalton pronounced the word larking in respect to the

conduct of `Tommy the Nut,' a rowdy of the period, and others

of both sexes in Stephen (now Exhibition) street.

"Your representative at the Court, the witty and clever `Billy'

O'Hea, who, alas! died too early, took advantage of the

appropriate sound of the word to apply it to rowdyism in

general, and, next time Dalton repeated the phrase, changed the

word from verb to noun, where it still remains, anything to the

contrary notwithstanding. I speak of what I do know, for O'Hea

drew my attention to the matter at the time, and, if I mistake

not, a reference to your files would show that it was first in

the `Argus' the word appeared in print."

("We can fully confirm Mr. Whelan's account of the origin of

the word `larrikin.'"--Ed. `Argus.')

[But see quotation from `Argus,' 1871.]

<hw>Larrikin</hw>, adj.

1878. `The Australian,' vol. i. p. 522:

"Marks the young criminals as heroes in the eyes not only of

the ostensible larrikin element . . ."

<hw>Larrikinalian</hw>, adj. (Not common.)

1893. `Evening Standard,' July 5, p. 4, col. 4 (Leading

Article):

"In the larrikinalian din which prevailed from start to finish

. . ."

<hw>Larrikiness</hw>, n. a female larrikin.

1871. `Collingwood Advertiser and Observer,' June 22, p. 3,

col. 5:

"Evidence was tendered as to the manner of life led by these

larikinesses . . . The juvenile larrikin element being

strongly represented in court, all the boys were ordered out."

1871. Sir George Stephen, Q.C., `Larrikinism,' a Lecture

reported in `Prahran Telegraph,' Sept. 23, p. 3, col. 1:

"I know many a larrikiness to whose voice I could listen by

the hour with all my heart, without the least fear of her

stealing it, even if it were worth the trouble."

1892. Gilbert Parker, `Round the Compass in Australia,'

p. 224:

"I have not found the larrikin [in Brisbane]. . . . The

slouch-hat, the rakish jib, the drawn features are not to be

seen; nor does the young larrikiness--that hideous outgrowth

of Sydney and Melbourne civilization--exist as a class."

<hw>Larrikinism</hw>, n. the conduct of larrikins

(q.v.).

1870. `The Australian' (Richmond, Victoria), Sept. 10, p. 3,

col. 3:

"A slight attempt at `larrikinism' was manifested. . . . "

1871. J. J. Simpson, `Recitations and Rhymes,' p. 17:

"Melbourne larrikinism is still very bad,

By the papers each day we are told."

1875. `Spectator' (Melbourne), June 19, p. 80, col. 2:

"He took as his theme the `Dialect of Victoria,' which was

coarse and vulgar to a degree. `Larrikinism' was used as a

synonym for `blackguardism.'"

1876. A. P. Martin, `Sweet Girl-Graduate,' p. 20:

"There is no doubt that its rising generation afforded material

for letters in the newspapers, under the headings `Larrikinism,'

or, `What shall we do with our boys?'"

1893. `The Argus,' Feb. 23:

"Outbreaks of larrikinism are not always harmless ebullitions

of animal spirits. Sometimes they have very serious results."

<hw>Laughing Jackass</hw>, n. See Jackass.

<hw>Launce</hw>, n. The Australian species of this fish

is Congrogradus subducens, Richards., found in North-

West Australia. The Launces or Sand-eels of the

Northern Hemisphere belong to a different group.

<hw>Laurel</hw>, n. The English tree name is applied in

Australia to various trees, viz.--

Alexandrian Laurel--

Calophyllum inophyllum, Linn:, N.O. Guttiferae;

not endemic in Australia.

Diamond-leaf L.--

Pittosporum rhombifolium, A. Cunn.,

N.O. Pittosporeae.

Dodder L.--

Cassytha filiformis, Linn., N.O. Lauraceae;

called also Devil's Guts, not endemic in Australia.

Hedge L. (q.v.)--

Pittosporum eugenioides, Cunn.

Moreton Bay L.--

Cryptocarya australis, Benth., N.O. Lauraceae;

called also Grey Sassafras.

Native L.--

Pittosporum undulatum, Andr., N.O. Pittosporeae;

called also Mock Orange (q.v.).

Panax elegans, C. Moore and F. v. M.,

N.O. Araliaceae; which is also called Light or White Sycamore.

White L.--

Cryptocarya glaucescens, R. Br., N.O. Lauraceae;

for other names see Beech.

In Tasmania, the name Native Laurel is applied to Anopterus

glandulosus, Lab., N.O. Saxifrageae. Peculiar to

Tasmania.

The New Zealand Laurel is Laurelia novae-zelandiae;

called also Sassafras.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 292:

"Native Laurel, [also called] `Mock Orange.' This tree is well

worth cultivating on a commercial scale for the sake of the

sweet perfume of its flowers."

<hw>Lavender, Native</hw>, n. a Tasmanian tree,

Styphelia australis, R. Br., N.O. Epacrideae.

<hw>Lawyer</hw>, n. One of the English provincial uses

of this word is for a thorny stem of a briar or bramble. In

New Zealand, the name is used in this sense for the Rubus

australis, N.O. Rosaceae, or Wild Raspberry-Vine

(Maori, Tataramoa). The words Bush-Lawyer,

Lawyer-Vine, and Lawyer-Palm, are used with the

same signification, and are also applied in some colonies to

the Calamus australis, Mart. (called also Lawyer-

Cane), and to Flagellaria indua, Linn,, similar

trailing plants.

1865. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `History of the Discovery

and Exploration of Australia,' vol. ii. p. 157:

"Calamus Australis, a plant which Kennedy now saw for

the first time. . . It is a strong climbing palm. From the

roots as many as ninety shoots will spring, and they lengthen

out as they climb for hundreds of feet, never thicker than a

man's finger. The long leaves are covered with sharp spines;

but what makes the plant the terror of the explorers, is the

tendrils, which grow out alternately with the leaves. Many of

these are twenty feet long, and they are covered with strong

spines, curved slightly downwards."

1867. F. Hochstetter, `New Zealand,' p. 135:

"Rubus Australis, the thorny strings of which scratch

the hands and face, and which the colonists, therefore, very

wittily call the `bush-lawyer.'"

1882. T. H. Potts, `Out in the Open,' p. 71:

"Torn by the recurved prickles of the bush-lawyer."

1889. Vincent Pyke, `Wild Will Enderby,' p. 16:

"Trailing `bush-lawyers,' intermingled with coarse bracken,

cling lovingly to the rude stones."

1890. C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals,' p. 103:

"In the mountain scrubs there grows a very luxuriant kind of

palm (Calamus Australis), whose stem of a finger's

thickness, like the East Indian Rotang-palm, creeps through the

woods for hundreds of feet, twining round trees in its path,

and at times forming so dense a wattle that it is impossible to

get through it. The stem and leaves are studded with the

sharpest thorns, which continually cling to you and draw blood,

hence its not very polite name of lawyer-palm."

1891. A. J. North, `Records of Australian Museum,' vol. i.

p. 118:

"Who, in the brushes of the Tweed River, found a nest placed on

a mass of `lawyer-vines' (Calamus Australis)."

1892. Gilbert Parker, `Round the Compass in Australia,'

p. 256:

"`Look out,' said my companion, `don't touch that lawyer-vine;

it will tear you properly, and then not let you go.' Too late;

my fingers touched it, and the vine had the best of it. The

thorns upon the vine are like barbed spears, and they would,

in the language of the Yankee, tear the hide off a crocodile."

1892. `The Times,' [Reprint] `Letters from Queensland,' p. 7:

"But no obstacle is worse for the clearer to encounter than the

lawyer-vines where they are not burnt off. These are a form of

palm which grows in feathery tufts along a pliant stalk, and

fastens itself as a creeper upon other trees. From beneath its

tufts of leaves it throws down trailing suckers of the

thickness of stout cord, armed with sets of sharp red barbs.

These suckers sometimes throw themselves from tree to tree

across a road which has not been lately used, and render it as

impassable to horses as so many strains of barbed wire. When

they merely escape from the undergrowth of wild ginger and

tree-fern and stinging-bush, which fringes the scrub, and coil

themselves in loose loops upon the ground, they are dangerous

enough as traps for either man or horse. In the jungle, where

they weave themselves in and out of the upright growths, they

form a web which at times defies every engine of destruction

but fire."

<hw>Lawyer-Cane</hw>, <hw>Lawyer-Palm</hw>, and

<hw>Lawyer-Vine</hw>. See Lawyer.

<hw>Lead</hw>, n. (pronounced leed), a mining

term. In the Western United States and elsewhere, the term

lead in mining is used as equivalent for lode. In Australia,

the word lead is only used in reference to alluvial

mining, and signifies the old river-bed in which gold is found.

1875. `Spectator' (Melbourne), June 19, p. 75, col. 2:

"There was every facility for abstracting the gold in the rich

lead of a neighbour."

1880. Fison and Howitt, `Kamilaroi and Kurnai,' p. 272 [Note]:

"The expression `deep lead' refers to those ancient

river-courses which are now only disclosed by deep-mining

operations."

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. v. p. 55:

"Taking the general matter of `leads' or dead rivers, it

chiefly obtained that if gold were found on one portion of

them, it extended to all the claims within a considerable

distance."

<hw>Lead, to strike the</hw>. See above. Used figuratively

for to succeed.

1874. Garnet Walch, `Head over Heels,' p. 74:

"We could shy up our caps for a feller,

As soon as he struck the lead."

<hw>Leadbeater</hw>, n. applied to a Cockatoo,

Cacatua leadbeateri, Vig., called Leadbeaters

Cockatoo by Major Mitchell (q.v.).

1890. Lyth, `Golden South,' c. xiv. p. 127:

"The birds are very beautiful--the Blue Mountain and Lowrie

parrots . . . leadbeater, and snow-white cockatoos."

<hw>Leaf-insect</hw>, n. See Phasmid.

<hw>Lease</hw>, n. a piece of land leased for mining

purposes. In England, the word is used for the document or

legal right concerning the land. In Australia, it is used for

the land itself. Compare Right-of-way.

1890. `Goldfields of Victoria,' p. 15:

"A nice block of stone was crushed from Johnson's lease."

<hw>Lease in perpetuity</hw>, a statutory expression in the

most recent land legislation of New Zealand, indicating a

specific mode of alienating Crown lands,. It is a lease for

999 years at a permanent rental equal to 4% on the capital

value, which is not subject to revision.

<hw>Leather-head</hw>, n. another name for the

Friar-bird (q.v.), Philemon corniculatus, Lath.

See Tropidorhynchus.

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 461:

"The Leatherhead with its constantly changing call and

whistling."

1855. W. Howitt, `Two Years in Victoria,' vol. i. p. 58:

"The leather-heads utter their settled phrase `Off we go! off

we go!' in the woods, or they come to suck honey from the

Melianthus major, which stands up like a huge artichoke

plant, tipped with dark red plumes of flowers."

1860. G. Bennett, `Gatherings of a Naturalist,' p. 233:

"Among the Honey-suckers is that singular-looking bird, the

Leatherhead, or Bald-headed Friar (Tropidorhynchus

corniculatus); it is commonly seen upon the topmost

branches of lofty trees, calling `Poor Soldier,' `Pimlico,'

`Four o'clock,' and uttering screaming sounds. It feeds upon

insects, wild fruits, and any sweets it can procure from the

flowers of the Banksia and Gum-trees."

<hw>Leather-Jacket</hw>, n.

(1) A name applied popularly and somewhat confusedly to various

trees, on account of the toughness of their bark--

(a) Eucalyptus punctata, De C., Hickory Eucalypt (q.v.);

(b) Alphitonia excelsa, Reiss., or Cooperswood;

(d) Cryptocarya meissnerii, F. v. M.;

(e) Weinmannia benthami, F. v. M.

(2) A fish of the family Sclerodermi, Monacanthus

ayraudi, Quoy. and Gaim., and numerous other species of

Monocanthus. Leather-Jackets are wide-spread in

Australian seas. The name is given elsewhere to other fishes.

See File-fish and Pig-fish.

1770. `Capt. Cook's Journal,' edition Wharton, 1893, p. 246:

"They had caught a great number of small fish, which the

sailors call leather jackets, on account of their having

a very thick skin; they are known in the West Indies."

1773. `Hawkesworth's Voyages,' vol. iii. p. 503--'Cook's

First Voyage,' May 4, 1770 (at Botany Bay):

"Small fish, which are well known in the West Indies, and

which our sailors call Leather jackets, because their skin

is remarkably thick."

1789. W. Tench, `Expedition to Botany Bay, p. 129:

"To this may be added bass, mullets, skaits, soles,

leather-jackets, and many other species."

(3) A kind of pancake.

1846. G. H. Haydon, `Five Years in Australia Felix,' p. 151:

"A plentiful supply of `leatherjackets' (dough fried in a

pan)."

1853. Mossman and Banister, `Australia Visited and Revisited,'

p. 126:

"Our party, upon this occasion, indulged themselves, in

addition to the usual bush fare, with what are called `Leather

jackets,' an Australian bush term for a thin cake made of

dough, and put into a pan to bake with some fat. . . The

Americans indulge in this kind of bread, giving them the name

of `Puff ballooners,' the only difference being that they place

the cake upon the bare coals . . ."

1855. R. Howitt, `Two Years in Victoria,' vol. i. p. 117:

"The leather-jacket is a cake of mere flour and water, raised

with tartaric acid and carbonate of soda instead of yeast, and

baked in the frying-pan; and is equal to any muffin you can

buy in the London shops."

<hw>Leather-wood</hw>, n. i.q. Pinkwood (q.v.).

<hw>Leawill</hw>, or <hw>Leeangle</hw> (with other spellings),

n. aboriginal names for a native weapon, a wooden club

bent at the striking end. The name is Victorian, especially of

the West; probably derived from lea or leang, or

leanyook, a tooth. The aboriginal forms are

langeel, or leanguel, and lea-wil,

or le-ow-el. The curve evidently helped the English

termination, angle.

1845. Charles Griffith, `Present State and Prospects of the

Port Phillip District of New South Wales,' p. 155:

"The liangle is, I think, described by Sir Thomas Mitchell.

It is of the shape of a pickaxe, with only one pick. Its name

is derived from another native word, leang, signifying a tooth.

It is a very formidable weapon, and used only in war."

1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discoveries in Australia,' vol. II.

c. xiii. p. 479:

"A weapon used by the natives called a Liangle, resembling a

miner's pick."

1863. M. K. Beveridge,' Gatherings among the Gum-trees,'

p. 56:

"Let us hand to hand attack him

With our Leeawells of Buloite."

Ibid. (In Glossary) p. 83:

"Leeawell, a kind of war club."

1867. G. Gordon McCrae, `Mimba,' p. 9:

"The long liangle's nascent form

Fore-spoke the distant battle-storm."

1886. R. Henty, `Australiana,' p. 21:

"His war-club or leeangle."

1889. P. Beveridge, `Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina,

p. 67:

"Of those [waddies] possessing--we might almost say---a

national character, the shapes of which seem to have come down

generation after generation, from the remotest period, the

Leawill is the most deadly-looking weapon. It is usually three

feet long, and two and a half inches thick, having a pointed

head, very similar both in shape and size to a miner's driving

pick; in most cases the oak (Casuarina) is used in the

manufacture of this weapon; it is used in close quarters only,

and is a most deadly instrument in the hands of a ruthless foe,

or in a general melee such as a midnight onslaught."

<hw>Leeangle</hw>, n. i.q. Leawill (q.v.).

<hw>Leek</hw>, n. a small parrot. See Greenleek.

<hw>Leek, Native</hw>, n. a poisonous Australian plant,

Bulbine bulbosa, Haw., N.O. Liliaceae. Called

also Native Onion. Its racemes of bright yellow flowers

make the paddocks gay in spring.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 121:

"`Native Onion,' `Native Leek.' Mr. W. n. Hutchinson, Sheep

Inspector, Warrego, Queensland, reports of this plant: `Its

effects on cattle are . . . continually lying down, rolling,

terribly scoured, mucous discharge from the nose.'"

<hw>Leg</hw>, n. mining term. a peculiar form of

quartz-reef, forming a nearly vertical prolongation of the

saddle.

1890. `The Argus,' June x6th, p. 6, col. 1:

"It may also be observed that in payable saddle formations a

slide intersects the reef above the saddle coming from the

west, and turning east with a wall of the east leg, where the

leg of reef is observed to go down deeper, and to carry a

greater amount of gold than in ordinary cases."

<hw>Legitimacy</hw>, n. See quotation.

[Old and now unused slang.]

1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i.

p. 16:

"Legitimacy--a colonial term for designating the cause of the

emigration of a certain portion of our population; i.e.

having legal reasons for making the voyage."

[So also at p. 116, "Legitimates"]

<hw>Leguminous Ironbark</hw>, n. a name given by

Leichhardt to the Queensland tree Erythrophaeum

laboucherii, F. v. M., N.O. Leguminosae.

See Ironbark.

<hw>Leichhardt</hw>, or <hw>Leichhardt-Tree</hw>, n.

an Australian timber-tree, Morinda citrifolia, Linn.,

N.O. Rubiaceae; called also Canary-wood and Indian

Mulberry. In Queensland, the name is applied to

Sarcocephalus cordatus, Miq., N.O. Rubiaceae,

a large timber-tree of North Queensland, much used

in building.

1874. M. K. Beveridge, `Lost Life,' p. 40:

"Groaning beneath the friendly shade

That by a Leichhardt-tree was made."

1885. H. Finch-Hatton, `Advance Australia, p. 258:

"The Leichhardt is a very symmetrical tree, that grows to a

height of about sixty feet, and has leaves rather like a big

laurel."

<hw>Leichhardt-Bean</hw>, n. See Bean.

<hw>Leichhardt's Clustered-Fig</hw>,

n. i.q. Clustered Fig. See Fig.

<hw>Lemon, Desert</hw>, n. See Desert Lemon.

<hw>Lemon-scented Gum</hw>, n. See Gum.

<hw>Lemon-scented Ironbark</hw>, n. a name given to the

Queensland tree Eucalyptus staigeriana, F. v. M.,

N.O. Myrtaceae. See Ironbark. The foliage of

this tree yields a large quantity of oil, equal in fragrance to

that of lemons.

<hw>Lemon-Sole</hw>, n. In England, the name is applied

to an inferior species of Sole. In New South Wales,

it is given to Plagusia unicolor, Mad., of the family

Pleuronectidae or Flat-fishes. In New Zealand,

it is another name for the New Zealand Turbot (q.v.).

<hw>Lemon, Wild</hw>, n. a timber tree, Canthium

latifolium, F. v. M., N.O. Rubiaceae; called also

Wild Orange.

<hw>Lemon-Wood</hw>, n. one of the names given by

settlers to the New Zealand tree called by Maoris Tarata

(q.v.), or Mapau (q.v.). It is Pittosporum

eugenoides, A. Cunn., N.O. Pittosporeae.

<hw>Leopard-Tree</hw>, n. an Australian tree,

Flindersia maculosa (or Strezleckiana), F. v. M.,

N.O. Meliaceae; called also Spotted-Tree (q.v.),

and sometimes, in Queensland, Prickly Pine.

<hw>Lerp</hw>, n. an aboriginal word belonging to the

Mallee District of Victoria (see Mallee). Sometimes

spelt leurp, or laap. The aboriginal word means

`sweet.' It is a kind of manna secreted by an insect, Psylla

eucalypti, and found on the leaves of the Mallee, Eucalyptus

dumosa. Attention was first drawn to it by Mr. Thomas

Dobson (see quotations). A chemical substance called

Lerpamyllum is derived from it; see Watts' `Dictionary

of Chemistry,' Second Supplement, 1875, s.v.

1848. W. Westgarth, `Australia Felix,' p. 73:

"The natives of the Wimmera prepare a luscious drink from the

laap, a sweet exudation from the leaf of the mallee

(Eucalyptus dumosa)."

1850. T. Dobson, `Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society

of Van Diemen's Land,' vol. i. p. 235:

"The white saccharine substance called `lerp,' by the

Aborigines in the north-western parts of Australia Felix, and

which has attracted the attention of chemists, under the

impression that it is a new species of manna, originates with

an insect of the tribe of Psyllidae, and order

Hemiptera."

1850. Ibid. p. 292::

"Insects which, in the larva state, have the faculty of

elaborating from the juices of the gum-leaves on which they

live a glutinous and saccharine fluid, whereof they construct

for themselves little conical domiciles."

1878. R. Brough Smyth, `The Aborigines of Victoria,' vol. i.

p. 211:

"Another variety of manna is the secretion of the pupa of an

insect of the Psylla family and obtains the name of

lerp among the aborigines. At certain seasons of the

year it is very abundant on the leaves of E. dumosa,

or mallee scrub . . ."

<hw>Lift</hw>, v. tr. to drive to market from the run.

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Squatter's Dream,' c. iv. p. 45:

"I haven't lifted a finer mob this season."

1890. `The Argus,' June 14, p. 4, col. 2:

"We lifted 7000 sheep."

<hw>Light-horseman</hw>, n. obsolete name for a fish;

probably the fish now called a Sweep (q.v.).

1789. W. Tench, `Expedition to Botany Bay,' p. 129:

"The French once caught [in Botany Bay] near two thousand fish

in one day, of a species of grouper, to which, from the form of

a bone in the head resembling a helmet, we have given the name

of light horseman."

1793. J. Hunter, `Voyage,' p. 410 [Aboriginal Vocabulary]:

"Woolamie, a fish called a light-horseman."

[But see Wollomai.]

1802. G. Barrington, `History of New South Wales,' c. iv.

p. 78:

"A boat belonging to the Sirius caught near fifty large fish,

which were called light-horsemen from a bone that grew out of

the head like a helmet."

<hw>Lightwood</hw>, n. a name given to various trees.

See Blackwood. It is chiefly applied to Acacia

melanoxylon, R. Br., N.O. Leguminosae. See

quotations, 1843 and 1889.

1843. I. Backhouse. `Narrative of a Visit to the Australian

Colonies,' p. 48:

"Lightwood--Acacia Melanoxylon . . . It derives its

name from swimming in water, while the other woods of

V. D. Land, except the pines, generally sink. In some parts of

the Colony it is called Blackwood, on account of its dark

colour."

1852. G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes' (edition 1855), p. 515:

"Some immense logs of `light wood,' a non lucendo,

darker than mahogany."

1864. J. Rogers, `New Rush,' p. 17:

"Arms so brown and bare, to look at them

Recalls to mind the lightwood's rugged stem."

1866. H. Simcox, `Rustic Rambles,' p. 54:

"The numerous lightwood trees with sombre shade

Tend to enhance the richness of the glade."

1884. Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' c. xv. p. 111:

"The ex-owner of Lyne wished himself back among the old

lightwood trees."

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 359:

"Called `Blackwood' on account of the very dark colour of the

mature wood. It is sometimes called `Lightwood' (chiefly in

South Tasmania, while the other name is given in North Tasmania

and other places), but this is an inappropriate name. It is in

allusion to its weight as compared with Eucalyptus timbers. It

is the `Black Sally' of Western New South Wales, the `Hickory'

of the southern portion of that colony, and is sometimes

called `Silver Wattle.' This is considered by some people

to be the most valuable of all Australian timbers.

It is hard and close-grained; much valued for furniture,

picture-frames, cabinet-work, fencing, bridges, etc., railway,

and other carriages, boat-building, for tool-handles,

gun-stocks, naves of wheels, crutches, parts of organs,

pianofortes (sound-boards and actions), etc."

<hw>Light Yellow-wood</hw>, i.q. Long-Jack (q.v.).

<hw>Lignum</hw> (1), or <hw>Lignum-Vitae</hw>, n.

The name is applied to several trees, as Myrtus

acmenioides, F. v. M., called also White Myrtle;

Acacia falcata, Willd., N.O. Leguminosae,

called also Hickory and Sally; but chiefly to

Eucalyptus polyanthema, Schau., N.O. Myrtaceae.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 505:

"[E. polyanthema.] The `Red Box' of South-eastern

Australia. Called also `Brown Box,' `Grey Box,' and `Bastard

Box.' `Poplar-leaved Gum' is another name, but it is most

commonly known as `Lignum Vitae' because of its tough and hard

wood. Great durability is attributed to this wood, though the

stems often become hollow in age, and thus timber of large

dimensions is not readily afforded. It is much sought after

for cogs, naves and felloes; it is also much in demand for

slabs in mines, while for fuel it is unsurpassed. (Mueller.)

Its great hardness is against its general use."

(2) A bushman's contraction for any species of the wiry plants

called polygonum.

1880. Mrs. Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' [writing

of the Lachlan district, New South Wales] p. 180:

"The poor emus had got down into the creek amongst the lignum

bushes for a little shade . . . I do not know what a

botanist would call them; they are something like cane, but

with large leaves, which all animals are fond of, and they grow

about eight feet high in the creeks and gullies."

1896. H. Lawson, `When the World was Wide,' p. 135:

"By mulga scrub and lignum plain."

<hw>Lilac</hw>, n. name given in Australia to the tree

Melia composita, Willd., N.O. Meliaceae, called

Cape Lilac. It is not endemic in Australia, and is

called "Persian Lilac "in India. In Tasmania the name of

Native Lilac is given to Prostanthera

rotundifolia, R. Br., N.O. Labiatae, and by

Mrs. Meredith to Tetratheca juncea, Smith, of the

Linnean Order, Octandria.

1793. J. E. Smith, `Specimen of Botany of New Holland,' p. 5:

"Tetratheca juncea, Rushy Tetratheca [with plate]."

1852. Mrs. Meredith, `My Home in Tasmania,' vol. ii. p. 69:

"A little purple flower, which is equally common, so vividly

recalls to my mind, both by its scent and colour, an Old-World

favorite, that I always know it as the native Lilac

(Tetratheca juncea)."

<hw>Lily, Darling</hw>, n. a bulbous plant, Crinum

flaccidum, Herb., N.O. Amaryllideae; called also the

Murray Lily. (See Lily, Murray.)

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 20:

"The `Darling Lily.' This exceedingly handsome white-flowered

plant, which grows back from the Darling, has bulbs which yield

a fair arrowroot. On one occasion, near the town of Wilcannia,

a man earned a handsome sum by making this substance when flour

was all but unattainable."

<hw>Lily, Flax</hw>, n. See Flax-Lily, and

Flax, New Zealand.

<hw>Lily, Giant</hw>-, or <hw>Spear</hw>-, n.

a fibre plant, Doryanthes excelsa, Corr.,

N.O. Amaryllideae.

1860. G. Bennett, `Gatherings of a Naturalist,' p. 339:

"The Doryanthes excelsa, a gigantic Lily of Australia, is a

magnificent plant, with a lofty flowering spike. The bunches

or clusters of crimson flowers are situated in the summit of

the flowering spike . . . The diameter of a cluster of

blossoms is about 14 inches . . . The flower-buds are of a

brilliant crimson, and the anthers of the stamens are, in the

recently expanded flower, of a dark-green colour."

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 621:

"`Spear Lily.' `Giant Lily.' The leaves are a mass of fibre,

of great strength, which admits of preparation either by

boiling or maceration, no perceptible difference as to quality

or colour being apparent after heckling. Suitable for brush

making, matting, etc."

<hw>Lily, Gordon</hw>, n. a Tasmanian plant

and its flower, Blandfordia marginata, Herb.,

N.O. Liliaceae, and other species of

Blandfordia (q.v.).

1835. Ross, `Hobart Town Almanack,' p. 72:

"Blandfordia nobilis. This splendid plant is common on the

west coast and on the shores of the Mersey. It bears a head of

pendulous scarlet blossoms tipped with yellow, one inch long,

rising out of a stalk of from 1 1/2 to 3 feet long, from between

two opposite series of strapshaped leaves. It is named after

George [Gordon] Marquis of Blandford, son of the second Duke of

Marlborough."

<hw>Lily, Murray</hw>, n. i.q. Darling Lily.

See above.

1877. F. v. Mueller, `Botanic Teachings,' p. 119:

"This showy genus Crinum furnishes also Victoria with a

beautiful species, the Murray Lily (Crinum flaccidum),

not however to be found away from the Murray-River southward."

<hw>Lilly-Pilly</hw>, n. name given to a large timber

tree, Eugenia smithii, Poir., N.O. Myrtaceae.

The bark is rich in tanning. Sometimes called Native

Banana.

1860. G. Bennett, `Gatherings of a Naturalist,' p. 327:

"The Lillypilly-trees, as they are named by the colonists,

consist of several species of Acmena, and are all of

elegant growth and dense and handsome foliage."

1879. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `Proceedings of the Linnaean

Society of New South Wales,' p. 134:

"Eugenia Smithii, or Lilli pilli, and Melodorum

Leichhardtii are also fair eating. The latter goes by the

name of the native banana though it is very different from a

banana, and in reality allied to the custard apple."

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 29:

"`Lilly Pilly.' The fruits are eaten by aboriginals, small

boys, and birds. They are formed in profusion, are acidulous

and wholesome. They are white with a purplish tint, and up to

one inch in diameter."

<hw>Lily, Rock</hw>, n. an orchid, Dendrobium

speciosum, Smith, N.O. Orchideae. although not a

Lily, it is always so called, especially in Sydney, where it is

common.

1879. H. n. Moseley, `Notes by Naturalist on Challenger,'

p. 270:

"A luxuriant vegetation, with huge masses of Stagshorn Fern

(Platycerium) and `rock-lilies' (orchids), and a variety

of timbers, whilst there are Tree-ferns and small palms in the

lateral shady gullies."

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 22:

"`Rock Lily.' The large pseudobulbs have been eaten by the

aboriginals; they contain little nutritive matter."

<hw>Lily, Water</hw>, n. There are several indigenous

native varieties of the N.O. Nymphaeceae--Cabombia

peltata, Pursh; Nymphaea gigantea, Hook. (Blue

Water-lily).

<hw>Lily, Yellow</hw>, n. a Tasmanian name for

Bulbine bulbosa, Haw., N.O. Liliaceae.

See Leek, Native.

<hw>Lime, Native</hw>, n. an Australian tree, Citrus

australasica, F. v. M., N.O. Rutaceae; called also

Finger Lime and Orange. But the appellation of

Native Lime is more generally given to Citrus

australis, Planch., N.O. Rutaceae.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 16:

"`Native Lime. Orange.' The fruit, which is an inch and

a half in diameter, and almost globular, yields an agreeable

beverage from its acid juice."

<hw>Ling</hw>, n. a fish. The name is given in England

to various fishes, from their length. In New Zealand and

Tasmania, it is applied to Genypterus blacodes, Forst.;

also called Cloudy Bay Cod. Lotella marginata,

Macl., is called Ling, in New South Wales, and

Beardie. Genypterus belongs to the

Ophidiidae and Lotella to the next family,

the Gadidae.

<hw>Lobster</hw>, n. The name is often carelessly used

in Australia for the Crayfish (q.v.).

<hw>Lobster's</hw>-Claw, n. another name for Sturt's

Desert Pea (q.v.).

<hw>Locust</hw>, n. name popularly but quite erroneously

applied to insects belonging to two distinct orders.

(1) Insects belonging to the order Hemiptera. The great

black Cicada, Cicada moerens, Germ., and the great green

Cicada, Cyclochila australasiae, Donov.

(2) Insects belonging to the order Orthoptera,

such as the great green gum-tree grasshopper, Locusta

vigentissima, Serv., or the Australian yellow-winged

locust, Oedipoda musica, Fab.

1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discoveries in Australia,' vol. I. c.

ix. p. 285:

"The trees swarmed with large locusts (the Cicada),

quite deafening us with their shrill buzzing noise."

1862. F. J. Jobson, `Australia,' c. iv. p. 104:

"We heard everywhere on the gumtrees the cricket-like

insects--usually called locusts by the colonists--hissing

their reed-like monotonous noise."

1869. J. Townend, `Reminiscences of Australia,' p. 155:

"The perpetual song of unnumbered locusts."

1885. H. H. Hayter, `Carboona,' p. 5:

"The deaf'ning hum of the locusts."

1885. F. McCoy, `Prodromus of the Natural History of

Victoria,' Dec. 5, pl. 50:

"Our Cicada moerens . . . produces an almost deafening

sound from the numbers of the individuals in the hottest days

and the loudness of their noise." "This species (Cyclochila

Australasiae) is much less abundant than the

C. moerens, and seems more confined to moist places,

such as river banks and deep ravines and gullies."

1889. F. McCoy, `Prodromus of the Natural History of

Victoria,' Dec. 11, pl. 110:

"The great size of the muscular thighs of the posterior pair of

feet enables the Locusts to jump much higher, further, and more

readily than Grasshoppers, giving an example of muscular power

almost unparalleled in the animal kingdom."

1896. F. A. Skuse, `Records of Australian Museum,' vol. ii.

No. 7, p. 107:

"What are commonly styled `locusts' in this country are really

Cicadae, belonging to a totally distinct and widely

separated order of insects. And moreover the same kind of

Cicada is known by different names in different

localities, such as `Miller,' `Mealyback,' etc. The true

locusts belong to the grasshoppers, while the Homopterous

Cicadidae have been known as Cicadas from times

of remote antiquity."

<hw>Locust-tree</hw>, of New Zealand. See Kowhai.

<hw>Logan-Apple</hw>, n. a small Queensland tree,

with an acid fruit, Acronychia acidia, F. v. M.,

N.O. Rutaceae.

<hw>Log-hut</hw>, n. Log-cabin is American.

Log-hut is Australian.

1802. G. Barrington, `History of New South Wales,' p. 178:

"Not more than ten settlers had been able to erect dwellings

better than log-huts."

[This was in Sydney, 1796.]

1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discoveries in Australia,' vol. I.

c. ix. p. 287:

"Captain Fyans was living in a log-hut on the banks of the

Marabool river."

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. vi. p. 61:

"Log-huts, with the walls built American fashion, of horizontal

tree-trunks."

<hw>Log-Runner</hw>, n. an Australian bird, called also

a Spinetail. The species are--

Black-headed--

Orthonyx spaldingi, Ramsay;

Spinetailed--

O. spinicauda, Temm., called also Pheasant's

Mother. See Orthonyx.

<hw>Logs</hw>, n. pl. the Lock-up. Originally, in the

early days, a log-hut, and often keeping the name when it was

made a more secure place. Sometimes, when there was no

lock-up, the prisoners were chained to heavy logs of trees.

1802. G.Barrington, `History of New South Wales,' p. 184:

"The governor resolved on building a large log prison both at

Sydney and Paramatta, and `as the affair cried haste,' a

quantity of logs were ordered to be sent in by the various

settlers, officers and others."

[p. 196]: "The inhabitants of Sydney were assessed to supply

thatch for the new gaol, and the building was enclosed with

a strong high fence. It was 80 feet long, the sides and ends

were of strong logs, a double row of which formed each

partition. The prison was divided into 22 cells. The floor

and the roof were logs, over which was a coat eight inches

deep of clay."

1851. Letter from Mrs. Perry, given in Canon Goodman's

`Church of Victoria during Episcopate of Bishop Perry,' p. 164:

"One [sentry] at the lock-up, a regular American log-hut."

[sic. But in America it would have been called a log-cabin.]

1888. Rolf Boldrewood, `Robbery under Arms,' p. 193:

"Let's put him in the Logs . . . The lock-up, like most

bush ones, was built of heavy logs, just roughly squared,

with the ceiling the same sort."

1888. Rolf Boldrewood, `A Sydneyside Saxon,' p. 111:

"`He'll land himself in the logs about that same calf racket

if he doesn't lookout, some day.' `Logs!' I says. `There

don't seem to be many about this part. The trees are all

too small.'"

<hw>Log up</hw>, v. to make a log-support for the

windlass.

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. v. p. 54:

"We . . . had logged up and made a start with another shaft."

<hw>Lolly</hw>, n., pl. <hw>Lollies</hw>. The English

word lollipop is always shortened in Australia, and is the

common word to the exclusion of others, e.g. sweets.

Manufacturers of sweetmeats are termed Lolly-makers.

1871. J. J. Simpson, `Recitations,' p. 24:

"Lollies that the children like."

1874. Garnet Walch, `Head over Heels,' p. 18:

"Common children fancy lollies,

Eat them 'gainst their parents' wills."

1882. A. J. Boyd, `Old Colonials,' p. 16:

"I thankfully expended the one in bile-producing cakes

and lollies."

1893. `Evening Standard' (Melbourne), Oct. 18, p. 6, col. 2:

"Mr. Patterson (musing over last Saturday's experiences):

You're going to raise the price of lollies. I'm a great buyer

of them myself. (Laughter.) If you pay the full duty it will,

doubtless, be patriotic for me to buy more when I go amongst

the juveniles."

<hw>Long-fin</hw>, n. name given to the fish Caprodon

schlegelii, Gunth., and in New South Wales to Anthias

longimanus, Gunth.

1882. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `Fish of New South Wales,'

p. 33:

"The long-fin, Anthias Iongimanus, Gunth., is a good

fish that finds its way to the market occasionally . . . may be

known by its uniform red colour, and the great length of the

pectoral fins."

<hw>Long-Jack</hw>, name given to the tree Flindersia

oxleyana, F. v. M., N.O. Meliaceae; called also

Light Yellow-Wood.

<hw>Long-sleever</hw>, n. name for a big drink and also

for the glass in which it is contained. Perhaps in allusion to

its tall, tapering, long shape.

1888. Cassell's `Picturesque Australasia,' vol. iii. p. 83:

"Their drivers had completed their regulation half-score of

`long-sleevers' of `she-oak.'"

<hw>Long-Tom</hw>, n. name given in Sydney to Belone

ferox, Gunth., a species of Garfish which has both

jaws prolonged to form a slender beak. See Garfish.

<hw>Long-Yam</hw>. See Yam.

<hw>Look</hw>, v. tr. to examine.

1874. W. H. L. Ranken, `Dominion of Australia,' c. vi. p. 105:

"Plains are scoured and every piece of timber looked."

[sc. looked-over.]

<hw>Lope</hw>, n. a slow and steady gallop. From Dutch

verb loopen, to leap, to run. The word is American

rather than Australian.

1855. W. Howitt, `Two Years in Victoria,' vol. i. p. 35:

"Every body gallops here, or at least goes at a canter--which

they call the Australian lope."

<hw>Loquat</hw>, a Chinese word meaning "Rush-orange,"

Photinia japonica. Being highly ornamental and bearing

a pleasant stony juicy fruit of the colour and size of a small

orange, it has been introduced into nearly all Australian

gardens. The name Native Loquat has been given to an

indigenous shrub, Rhodomyrtus macrocarpa, Benth.,

N.O. Myrtaceae.

<hw>Lorikeet</hw>, n. a bird-name, little Lory

(q.v.). The species in Australia are--

Blue-bellied Lorikeet--

Trichoglossus novae-hollandiae, Gmel.

Blue-faced L.--

Cyclopsitta macleayana, Ramsay.

Little L.--

Trichoglossus pusillus, Shaw.

Musk L.--

T. concinnus, Shaw.

Purple-crowned L.--

T. porphyrocephalus, Dietr.

Red-collared L.--

T. rubritorqus, Vig. and Hors.

Red-faced L.--

Cyclopsitta coxenii, Gould.

Scaly-breasted L.--

Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus, Kuhl.

Swift L.--

Lathamus discolor, Shaw.

Varied L.--

Trichoglossus versicolor, Vig.