<hw>Tussock-grass</hw>, <i>n</i>. Tussock is an English word for a tuft of grass. From this a plant of the lily family, <i>Lomandra longifolia</i>, R. Br., <i>N.O. Lilaceae</i>, is named <i>Tussock-grass</i>; it is "considered the best native substitute for esparto." (`Century.')
1884. Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' c. v. p. 38:
"The roof was neatly thatched with the tall, strong tussock-grass."
<hw>Tussocker</hw>, <i>n</i>. a New Zealand name for a <i>Sundowner</i> (q.v.).
1889. Vincent Pyke, `Wild Will Enderby':
"Now, a `sun-downer,' or `tussocker'—for the terms are synonymous—is a pastoral loafer; one who loiters about till dusk, and then makes for the nearest station or hut, to beg for shelter and food."
<hw>Tutu</hw>, or <hw>Toot</hw>, <i>n</i>. Maori name for a shrub or small tree, <i>Coriaria ruscifolia</i>, Linn., or <i>C. sarmentosa</i>, Forst., of New Zealand, widely distributed. It bears greenish flowers, and shiny pulpy black berries. From these the Maoris make a wine resembling light claret, taking care to strain out and not to crush the seeds, which are poisonous, with an action similar to that of strychnine. It goes also by the name of <i>Wineberry-bush</i>, and the Maori name is Anglicised into <i>Toot</i>. In Maori, the final <i>u</i> is swallowed rather than pronounced. In English names derived from the Maori, a vowel after a mute letter is not sounded. It is called in the North Island <i>Tupakihi</i>. In Maori, the verb <i>tutu</i> means to be hit, wounded, or vehemently wild, and the name of the plant thus seems to be connected with the effects produced by its poison. To "eat your toot": used as a slang phrase; to become acclimatised, to settle down into colonial ways.
1857. R. Wilkin, in a Letter printed by C. Hursthouse, `New Zealand,' p. 372:
"The plant called `tutu' or `toot' appears to be universal over New Zealand. If eaten by sheep or cattle with empty stomachs, it acts in a similar manner to green clover, and sometimes causes death; but if partaken of sparingly, and with grass, it is said to possess highly fattening qualities. None of the graziers, however, except one, with whom I conversed on the subject, seemed to consider toot worth notice; . . . it is rapidly disappearing in the older settled districts and will doubtless soon disappear here."
1857. C. Hursthouse, `New Zealand,' p. 395: