Austral English Part 209

Punga-punga, n. Maori name for the pollen of the raupo (q.v.).

1880. W. Colenso, `Transactions of New Zealand Inst.i.tute,'

vol. xiii. art. i. p. 28:

"Another curious article of vegetable food was the punga-punga, the yellow pollen of the raupo flowers. To use it as food it is mixed with water into cakes and baked. It is sweetish and light, and reminds one strongly of London gingerbread."

Puriri, n. Maori name for the New Zealand tree, Vitex littoralis, A. Cunn., N.O. Verbenaceae; called also New Zealand Oak, New Zealand Teak, and Ironwood. It is very hard.

1842. W. R. Wade, `Journey in New Zealand' (Hobart Town), p. 200:

"Puriri, misnamed Vitex littoralis, as it is not found near the sea-coast."

1875. T. Laslett, `Timber and Timber Trees,' p. 311:

"The Puriri Tree (Vitex littoralis). The stems ... vary from straight to every imaginable form of curved growth... The fruit, which is like a cherry, is a favourite food of the woodpigeon."

1882. T. H. Potts, `Out in the Open,' p. 86:

"A deep ravine, over which grey-stemmed purtris stretched out afar their gnarled trunks, laden with deep green foliage, speckled with the warm gleam of ruddy blossoms."

1881. J. L. Campbell, `Poenamo,' p. 102:

"The darker, crimped and varnished leaf of the puriri, with its bright cherry-like berry."

1889. T. Kirk, `Forest Flora of New Zealand,' p. 209:

"The Puriri ... on account of the strength of its timber it is sometimes termed by the settlers `New Zealand Oak,' but it would be far more correct to name it `New Zealand Teak.'"

Purple Berry, n. Tasmanian name for Billardiera longiflora, Lab., N.O. Pittosporeae.

See Pittosporum.

1880. Mrs. Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' p. 11 [Note]:

"Billardiera longiflora, the well-known beautiful climber, with pale greenish bell-flowers and purple fruit."

[Also pl. i.]

Purple Broom, n. See Broom.

Purple Coot, n. another name for the Swamp-Hen (q.v.).

Purple Fig, n. See under Fig-tree.

Push, n. a gang. The word is of late very common in Australia. It was once a prison term. Barrere and Leland quote from M. Davitt's `Leaves from a Prison Diary,'

"the upper ten push." In Thieves' English it is--(1) a crowd; (2) an a.s.sociation for a particular robbery. In Australia, its use began with the larrikins (q.v.), and spread, until now it often means clique, set, party, and even jocularly so far as "the Government House Push."

1890. `The Argus,' July 26, p. 4, col. 3:

"`Doolan's push' were a party of larrikins working ...

in a potato paddock near by."

1892. A topical song by E. J. Lonnen began:

"I've chucked up my Push for my Donah."

1893. `The Australasian,' June 24, p. 1165, col. 4:

"He [the young clergyman] is actually a member of every `push'

in his neighbourhood, and the effect has been not to degrade the pastor, but to sweeten and elevate the `push.'"

1893. `Sydney Morning Herald,' June 26, p. 8, col. 7:

"For a long time past the `push' at Miller's Point, which consists of young fellows for the most part under twenty-one years of age, have been a terrible source of annoyance, and, indeed, of actual danger. A few years ago the police by resolute dealings with the larrikin pest almost put it down in the neighbourhood, the part of it which was left being thoroughly cowed, and consequently afraid to make any disturbance. Within the past eighteen months or two years the old `push' has been strengthened by the addition of youths just entering on manhood, who, gradually increasing in numbers, have elbowed their predecessors out of the field. Day by day the new `push' has become more daring. From chaffing drunken men and insulting defenceless women, the company has taken to a.s.sault, to daylight robbery."

1893. `The Argus,' July 1, p. 10, col. 7:

"The Premier, in consultation with the inspector-general of the police, has made arrangements to protect life and property against the misconduct of the lawless larrikin `pushes' now terrorising Sydney."

1894. `Sydney Morning Herald' (date lost):

"The word larrikin is excellently descriptive of the irresponsible, mischievous, anti-social creature whose eccentric action is the outcome of too much mutton. This immoral will-o'-the-wisp, seized with a desire to jostle, or thump, or smash, combines for the occasion with others like himself, and the shouldering, shoving gang is well called a push."

Pyrrholaemus, n. scientific name of the genus of the Australian birds called the Red-throats; from Grk. purros, "flame-coloured," "red," and laimos, "throat."

Q

Quail, n. a bird which exists under some form all over the world. The Australian species are--

Black-breasted Quail-- Turnix melanogaster, Gould.

Brown Q.-- Synoicus australis, Lath.

[Called also Swamp-Quail.]

Chestnut-backed Q.-- Turnix castanotus, Gould.

Chestnut-bellied Q.-- Excalfatoria australis, Gould.

Little Q.-- Turnix velox, Gould.

Painted Q.-- T. varies, Lath. [Haemipodius melinatus, Gould.]

Red-backed Q.-- T. maculosa, Gould.

Red-chested Q.-- T. pyrrhothorax, Gould.

Stubble Q.-- Coturnix pectoralis, Gould.