J – Letter Jackeroo - Jumbuck
When it came to the J Letter I wasn’t all that sure what to write about. I thought of several subjects but wasn’t really happy with those then one night when I couldn’t sleep (Why is it mostly at night that we think of these things that otherwise escape us?) The thought occurred to me of writing about the meaning of some of the Australian ‘Slang’ words that are used here. Many of the words that I grew up with are gradually fazing out as we become more of a Multi-Culture Society but are still used by the middle age group through to we older generation whilst the younger generation continue to use the more common ones.
Following is a list of some of the words and meanings that are still used today.
Jackaroo - A jackaroo is a young man (the feminine equivalent is ‘jillaroo’) working on a sheep or cattle station, to gain practical experience in the skills needed to become an owner, overseer, manager, etc. The word originated in Queensland, Australia in the 19th century and is still in use in Australia and New Zealand in the 21st century. Its origins are unclear, although it is firmly rooted in Australian English, Australian culture and in the traditions of the Australian stockmen. The word 'jillaroo' for a female land worker was coined in the Second World War and persisted into the 21st century. During the war it was necessary for women to take on all the occupations followed traditionally only by men. Jillaroos were the female equivalent of jackeroos.
Waltzing Matilda" is Australia's best-known bush ballad, and has been described as the country's "unofficial national anthem".
The title was Australian slang for travelling on foot with one's belongings in a "matilda" (swag) slung over one's back. The song narrates the story of an itinerant worker, or "swagman", making a drink of billy tea at a bush camp and capturing a stray jumbuck (sheep) to eat. When the jumbuck's owner, a squatter (wealthy landowner), and three mounted policemen pursue the swagman for theft, he declares "You'll never take me alive!" and commits suicide by drowning himself in a nearby billabong (watering hole), after which his ghost haunts the site.
Waltzing Matilda
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolibah tree,
He sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me
He sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled,
you'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me
Down came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong,
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,
he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
you'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
you'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me
he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me
Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred,
Up rode the troopers, one, two, three,
With the jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me
With the jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, you scoundrel with me.
Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong,
You'll never catch me alive, said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
you'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me.
Jabiru - The black-necked stork is a tall long-necked wading bird in the stork family. It is a resident species with a disjunct population in Australia. It lives in wetland habitats and certain crops such as rice and wheat where it forages for a wide range of animal prey. Adult birds of both sexes have a heavy bill and are patterned in white and glossy blacks, but the sexes differ in the colour of the iris. It is one of the few storks that is strongly territorial when feeding.
Jumper (A pull-on sweater) any type of knit shirt that is pulled over the head rather than buttoned up……
Joey – (A baby Kangaroo) A female
kangaroo gives birth to a tiny ‘Joey’ that weighs about 2gm and is the size of a jellybean. ... Before the birth, the mother kangaroo licks her fur to make a track so that the joey can climb up into her pouch
journo (journalist). There was a newspaper article about "dodgy journos," meaning sloppy or dishonest journalists.
Jumble – Rummage Sale
Jelly = Jell-O
Jarmies - Pyjamas, bed clothes
Jaffas is an Australian registered trademark for a small round sweet consisting of a soft chocolate centre with a hard covering of orange flavoured, red coloured confectionery. The name derives from the Jaffa orange. The sweet is part of both Australiana and Kiwiana.
Tags: Words
