Austral English Part 70

Dottrel, n. formerly Dotterel, common English bird-name, applied in Australia to Charadrius australis, Gould.

Black-fronted Dottrel-- Charadrius nigrifrons, Temm.

Double-banded D.-- C. bicincta, Jord. and Selb.

Hooded D.-- C. monacha, Geoff.

Large Sand D.-- C. (AEgialitis) geoffroyi, Wag.

Mongolian Sand D.-- C. (AEgialitis) mongolica, Pallas.

Oriental D.-- C. veredus, Gould.

Red-capped Dottrel-- Charadrius ruficapilla, Temm.; called also Sand-lark.

Red-necked D.-- C. (AEgialitis) mastersi, Ramsay.

Ringed D.-- C. hiaticula, Linn. [See also Red-knee.]

Dove, n. a well-known English bird-name, applied in Australia to the--

Barred-shouldered Dove-- Geopelia humeralis, Temm.

Ground D.-- G. tranquilla, Gould.

Little D.-- G. cuneata, Lath. [See also Ground-dove.]

Dove-Petrel, n. a well-known English bird-name.

The species in the-Southern Seas are--

Prion turtur, Smith.

Banks D.-P.-- P. banksii, Smith.

Broad-billed D.-P.-- P. vittata, Forst.

Fairy D.-P.-- P. ariel, Gould.

Dover, n. a clasp knife, by a maker of that name, once much used in the colonies.

1878. `The Australian,' vol. i. p. 418:

"In plates and knives scant is the shepherd's store, `Dover' and pan are all, he wants no more."

1893. April 15, `A Traveller's Note':

"`So much a week and the use of my Dover' men used to say in making a contract of labour."

1894. `Bush Song' [Extract]:

"Tie up the dog beside the log, And come and flash your Dover."

Down, n. a prejudice against, hostility to; a peculiarly Australian noun made out of the adverb.

1856. W. W. Dobie, `Recollections of a Visit to Port Philip,'

p. 84:

"... the bushranger had been in search of another squatter, on whom `he said he had a down'..."

1884. J. W. Bull, `Early Life in South Australia,' p. 179:

"It was explained that Foley had a private `down' on them, as having stolen from him a favourite kangaroo dog."

1889. Ca.s.sell's `Picturesque Australasia, vol. iv. p. 180:

"They [diggers] had a `dead down' on all made dishes."

1893. Professor Gosman, `The Argus,' April 24, p. 7, col. 4:

"That old prejudice in the minds of many men to the effect that those who represented the churches or religious people had a regular down upon freedom of thought."

1893. `The Age,' June 24, p. 5, col. 1:

"Mr. M. said it was notorious in the department that one of the commissioners had had `a down' on him."

1893. R. L. Stevenson, `Island Nights' Entertainments,' p. 46:

"`They have a down on you,' says Case. `Taboo a man because they have a down on him" I cried. `I never heard the like.'"

Down, adv. "To come, or be down," is the phrase used in Australian Universities for to be "plucked," or "ploughed," or "spun," i.e., to fail in an examination. It has been in use for a few years, certainly not earlier than 1886.

The metaphor is either taken from a fall from a horse, or perhaps from the prize-ring. The use has no connection with being "sent down," or "going down," at Oxford or Cambridge.

Draft, v. to separate and sort cattle. An adaptation of the meaning "to select and draw off for particular service," especially used of soldiers.

1884. Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' c. vi. p. 46:

"I should like to be drafting there again."

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `The Squatter's Dream,' p. 2:

"There were those cattle to be drafted that had been brought from the Lost Waterhole."

Draft, n. a body of cattle separated from the rest of the herd.

1884. Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' c. ii. p. 22:

"A draft of out-lying cattle rose and galloped off."