Austral English. Edward Ellis Morris

Austral English - Edward Ellis Morris


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decided … a claim to take up."

      <hw>Clay-pan</hw>, <i>n</i>. name given, especially in the dry interior of Australia, to a slight depression of the ground varying in size from a few yards to a mile in length, where the deposit of fine silt prevents the water from sinking into the ground as rapidly as it does elsewhere.

      1875. John Forrest, `Explorations in Australia,' p. 260:

      "We travelled down the road for about thirty-three miles over stony plains; many clay-pans with water but no feed."

      1896. Baldwin Spencer, `Horne Expedition in Central Australia,' Narrative, vol. i. p. 17:

      "One of the most striking features of the central area and especially amongst the loamy plains and sandhills, is the number of clay-pans. These are shallow depressions, with no outlet, varying in length from a few yards to half a mile, where the surface is covered with a thin clayey material, which seems to prevent the water from sinking as rapidly as it does in other parts."

      <hw>Clean-skins</hw>, or <hw>Clear-skins</hw>, <i>n</i>. unbranded cattle or horses.

      1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 206:

      "These clean-skins, as they are often called, to distinguish them from the branded cattle."

      1884. Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' c. xv. p. 109:

      "Strangers and pilgrims, calves and clear-skins, are separated at the same time."

      1889. Rev. J. H. Zillmann, `Australian Life,' p. 82:

      "`Clear-skins,' as unbranded cattle were commonly called, were taken charge of at once."

      1893. `The Argus,' April 29, p.4, col. 4:

      "As they fed slowly homeward bellowing for their calves, and lowing for their mates, the wondering clean-skins would come up in a compact body, tearing, ripping, kicking, and moaning, working round and round them in awkward, loblolly canter."

      <hw>Clearing lease</hw>, <i>n</i>. Explained in quotation.

      1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discoveries in Australia,' vol. i. c. x. p. 321:

      "[They] held a small piece of land on what is called a clearing lease—that is to say, they were allowed to retain possession of it for so many years for the labour of clearing the land."

      <hw>Clematis</hw>, <i>n</i>. the scientific and vernacular name of a genus of plants belonging to the <i>N.O. Ranunculaceae</i>. The common species in Australia is <i>C. aristata</i>, R. Br.

      1834. Ross, `Van Diemen's Land Annual,' p. 124:

      "The beautiful species of <i>clematis</i> called <i>aristata</i>, which may be seen in the months of November and December, spreading forth its milk-white blossoms over the shrubs … in other places rising up to the top of the highest gum-trees."

      <hw>Clianthus</hw>, <i>n</i>. scientific name for an Australasian genus of plants, <i>N.O. Leguminosae</i>, containing only two species—in Australia, <i>Sturt's Desert Pea</i> (q.v.), <i>C. dampieri</i>; and in New Zealand, the <i>Kaka-bill</i> (q.v.), <i>C. puniceus</i>. Both species are also called <i>Glory-Pea</i>, from Grk. <i>kleos</i>, glory, and <i>anthos</i>, a flower.

      1892. `Otago Witness,' Nov.24, `Native Trees':

      "Hooker says the genus <i>Clianthus</i> consists of the Australian and New Zealand species only, the latter is therefore clearly indigenous. `One of the most beautiful plants known' (Hooker). Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solandel found it during Cook's first voyage."

      <hw>Climbing-fish</hw>, <i>n</i>. i.q. <i>Hopping-fish</i> (q.v.).

      <hw>Climbing-Pepper</hw>, <i>n</i>. See <i>Pepper</i>.

      <hw>Clitonyx</hw>, <i>n</i>. the scientific name of a genus of New Zealand birds, including the <i>Yellow-head</i> (q.v.) and the <i>White-head</i> (q.v.); from Greek <i>klinein</i>, root <i>klit</i>, to lean, slant, and <i>'onux</i>, claw. The genus was so named by Reichenbach in 1851, to distinguish the New Zealand birds from the Australian birds of the genus <i>Orthonyx</i> (q.v.), which formerly included them both.

      <hw>Clock-bird</hw>, <i>n</i>. another name for the <i>Laughing Jachass</i>. See <i>Jackass</i>.

      <hw>Clock, Settlers'</hw>, <i>n</i>. i.q. <i>Clock-bird</i>, (q.v.)

      <hw>Cloudy-Bay Cod</hw>, <i>n</i>. a New Zealand name for the <i>Ling</i> (q.v.). See also <i>Cod</i>.

      <hw>Clover-Fern</hw>, <i>n</i>. another name for the plant called <i>Nardoo</i> (q.v.).

      <hw>Clover, Menindie</hw>, <i>n</i>. an Australian fodder plant, <i>Trigonella suavissima</i>, Lind., <i>N.O. Leguminoseae</i>.

      1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 143:

      `From its abundance in the neighbourhood of Menindie, it is often called Menindie-clover.' It is the `Australian shamrock' of Mitchell. This perennial, fragrant, clover-like plant is a good pasture herb."

      <hw>Clover-Tree</hw>, <i>n</i>. a Tasmanian tree, called also <i>Native Laburnun</i>. See under <i>Laburnum</i>.

      <hw>Coach</hw>, <i>n</i>. a bullock used as a decoy to catch wild cattle. This seems to be from the use of coach as the University term for a private tutor.

      1874. W. H. L. Ranken, `Dominion of Australia,' c. vi. p. 110:

      "To get them [sc. wild cattle] a party of stockmen take a small herd of quiet cattle, `coaches.'"

      <hw>Coach</hw>, <i>v</i>. to decoy wild cattle or horses with tame ones.

      1874. W. H. L. Ranken, `Dominion of Australia,' c. vi. p. 121:

      "Here he [the wild horse] may be got by `coaching' like wild cattle."

      <hw>Coach-whip Bird</hw>, <i>n</i>. <i>Psophodes crepitans</i>, V. and H. (see Gould's `Birds of Australia,' vol. iii. pl. 15); Black-throated C.B., <i>P. nigrogularis</i>, Gould. Called also <i>Whipbird</i> and <i>Coachman</i>.

      1827. Vigors and Horsfield, `Transactions of Linnaean Society,' vol. xv. p. 330:

      "This bird is more often heard than seen. It inhabits bushes. The loud cracking whip-like noise it makes (from whence the colonists give it the name of coachwhip), may be heard from a great distance."

      1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. ii. p. 158:

      "If you should hear a coachwhip crack behind, you may instinctively start aside to let <i>the mail</i> pass; but quickly find it is only our native coachman with his spread-out fantail and perked-up crest, whistling and cracking out his whip-like notes as he hops sprucely from branch to branch."

      1844. Mrs. Meredith, `Notes and Sketches of New South Wales,' p. 137:

      "Another equally singular voice among our feathered friends was that of the `coachman,' than which no title could be more appropriate, his chief note being a long clear whistle, with a smart crack of the whip to finish with."

      1845. R. Howitt, `Australia,' p. 177:

      "The bell-bird, by the river heard;

       The whip-bird, which surprised I hear,

       In me have powerful memories stirred

       Of other scenes and strains more dear;

       Of sweeter songs than these afford,

       The thrush


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