Austral English / A dictionary of Australasian words, phrases and usages with those aboriginal-Australian and Maori words which have become incorporated in the language, and the commoner scientific words that have had their origin in Australasia

by Edward Ellis Morris

"You would find them down at Reed's wool-shed now."

<hw>Woomera</hw>, <i>n</i>. an aboriginal name for a <i>throwing-stick</i> (q.v.); spelt in various ways (seven in the quotations), according as different writers have tried to express the sound of the aboriginal word.

1793. Governor Hunter, `Voyage,' p. 407 [in a Vocabulary]:

"<i>Womar</i>—a throwing stick."

1798. D. Collins, `Account of English Colony in New South Wales,' p. 613:

"Wo-mer-ra—throwing stick."

1814. L. E. Threlkeld, `Australian Grammar' [as spoken on Hunter's River, etc.], p. 10:

"As a barbarism—wommerru, a weapon."

1830. R. Dawson, `Present State of Australia,' p. 240:

"Pieces of hard iron-bark to represent their war weapon, the womerah . . . the whirling womerahs."