English from Australian Aboriginal Words Quiz

Answer: Kangaroo

The origin of English use of 'kangaroo' can be traced back to the expedition of Captain James Cook and the Endeavour's botanist, Joseph Banks, in 1770. They picked up this word from the Guugu Yimidhirr language of North Queensland, where it has been represented as 'gang-oo-roo' and in that case specifically referred to the grey kangaroos that abounded in that region.

Another English usage is in the term 'kangaroo court' which often depicts a grave miscarriage of justice. In this case, the meaning is that very large leaps are being made (presumably without evidence).

Answer: Billabong

'Billabong' appears to have been derived from the Wiradjuri people of southern New South Wales and means the river that runs only after rain. In this region, and many other parts of Australia, inland rivers often dry up to isolated water holes during summer or extended drought. The billabong, the residual pool, is therefore an incredibly valuable resource for both the people and the local fauna. River bends tend to form deeper holes due to the hydraulic action of the water on the bed sediments. Hence, when the river channel meanders across the floodplain over a long period of time (and usually during very high flow events), it can 'short circuit' large bends providing a more rapid means for water to get downstream. These residual deep holes are only reconnected to the river during high water.

It is tempting to think that, in 'Waltzing Matilda', the reason the jolly swagman leapt into the billabong (and drowned) was that this was the only water in a harsh environment. Perhaps it was the lack of natural foods that caused him to steal the sheep in the first place!

Answer: Taipan

The venom of taipans is incredibly potent and acts via a range of mechanisms including causing large clots that block arteries and veins as well as paralyzing the nervous system. Inland taipans, the more venomous of the two major types, is generally less aggressive than its coastal counterpart. There are a legion of anecdotes relating to people being chased by coastal taipans, after surprising or accidentally cornering these snakes. The antivenom (antivenin) was successfully made available in 1955. Prior to this time, a taipan bite could often be fatal. Taipans normally hunt small mammals.

Taipans are not restricted to Australia as there is a subspecies of the coastal taipan that is found in Papua New Guinea. This is another example of the commonality of much fauna between northern Australia (Arnhem land) and PNG. During the late Pleistocene epoch (which ended about 12,000 years ago), the sea levels in this region were much lower and there was a land bridge across the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Arafura Sea and Torres Strait.

Answer: A burr or prickle from a lawn weed

There are several names for these painful prickles that tend to lodge very painfully in bare feet brave (silly?) enough to wander around outside. As well as bindy, bindii, bindy eye and several similarities, depending on the location they can also be called 'joeys' (no relationship to the baby animals), 'three corner jacks' and many other printable names - and probably more that cannot be repeated here!

Although the etymology is uncertain, the term 'bindii' and variants may have originated as 'bindayaa' from the Gamilaraay or Kamilaroi languages of south-eastern Australia. The actual plant genus involved in inflicting pain differs according to region and is certainly not limited to Australia. The Calotis genus is one generator of these prickles, as is the Soliva genus which is also common in the Americas and New Zealand.

The solution is always to wear shoes or thongs (flip flops, sandals!) on your feet when outside!

Answer: Yakka

Hard 'yakka' equates to very hard physical work. The word originates from the Yagar language in Queensland where 'yaga' meant 'to work'. The word was appropriated by a clothing manufacturer who used it to label hard-wearing, durable and tough work clothing.

It is probably this exposure that lead to the term being well known across the country. The other similar -ounding options are also commonly used and refer to: 'tucker' = food (hence tuckerbag and tuckerbox); cracka (more commonly 'cracker') = fantastic (usually); and 'wacker' = a strange or odd person who often does daggy or funny things.

Answer: Eat it

A quandong is the fruit of a relatively common plant from the sandalwood family. The red fruit is found in arid and semi-arid regions across the Australian mainland. The plant is semi-parasitic, often getting its water supply from the host plant. The quandong is eaten raw or dried and also valued for its natural medicinal properties in treating skin lesions.

The word quandong is taken from the Wiradhuri people of what we now call the Murray-Darling (river) basin in eastern Australia, and is their word for this fruit, 'guwandhang'.

Answer: Corroboree

A corroboree is an event where the Aboriginal peoples can interact with their Dreamtime stories through dance and music. Elaborate costumes are often incorporated. Such events are critical in the continuation of cultural memory. The term 'Dreamtime' is perhaps a misrepresentation of the belief, whereas a better word might be the uncreated or eternal or land before time. Different tribal groups have different Dreamtime stories and different word(s) to describe this cultural event where stories are enacted.

The word 'corroboree' probably originated with the eastern Australian word 'carriberrie'.

Answer: Gibber

The word 'gibber' comes from the regional word for stone. Although there is some contention as to the mechanism of formation, it is thought that the gibbers (stones) making up the surface of the harsh landscape are what's left behind after the fine, surface soil has been blown away by the wind, and/or washed away by rare, large rain events.

Although it is tempting to think up links (e.g. the delirious ravings of a thirst-crazed mind), the word 'gibberish', meaning foolish talk, has nothing to do with the Aboriginal 'gibber'.

Answer: Australian Rules Football

The past-time of Marn Grook also consisted of performing amazing acrobatic feats while trying to prevent the 'ball' (made from items such as a possum skin) hitting the ground. There is some contention as to when and where this 'game' came from, although it certainly preceded European settlement.

It has been claimed by groups across Victoria and up into New South Wales. 'Pultja' was a similar game played in central Australia. Australian Rules Football was developed in the mid-nineteenth century, originally as a means to keep cricketers fit during the winter 'off-season'.

The first formal game was played in 1858 between Melbourne Grammar School and Scotch College, although games with rules no longer known had been played up to nearly twenty years earlier in Tasmania (then Van Diemen's Land), Victoria and South Australia.

Answer: Bunyip

The word 'bunyip' has been traced to the Wemba Wemba people of south eastern Australia. However, the origin of the bunyip is far from clear. Similar creatures occur in the lore of many tribes across a vast area of Australia. Descriptions of a bunyip's appearance vary enormously and include (or exclude) tusks, fur, flippers, a dog-like face, a duck bill and perhaps a crocodile head (even more strange than the real platypus!).

There are also links to fossils, raising the theory that the 'bunyip' might be related to the Diprotodon (or other extinct mammals). On a different track, scholars have also suggested links to the great creator, Bunjil.