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

<hw>Cardamom</hw>, <i>n</i>. For the Australian tree of this name, see quotation.

1890. C. Lumholtz,' Among Cannibals,' p. 96:

"The Australian cardamom tree." [Footnote]: "This is a fictitious name, as are the names of many Australian plants and animals. The tree belongs to the nutmeg family, and its real name is <i>Myristica insipida</i>. The name owes its existence to the similarity of the fruit to the real cardamom. But the fruit of the <i>Myristica has</i> not so strong and pleasant an odour as the real cardamom, and hence the tree is called <i>insipida</i>."

<hw>Carp</hw>, <i>n</i>. The English fish is of the family <i>Cyprinidae</i>. The name is given to different fishes in Ireland and elsewhere. In Sydney it is <i>Chilodactylus fuscus</i>, Castln., and <i>Chilodactylus macropterus</i>, Richards.; called also <i>Morwong</i> (q.v.). The <i>Murray Carp</i> is <i>Murrayia cyprinoides</i>, Castln., a percoid fish. <i>Chilodactylis</i> belongs to the family <i>Cirrhitidae</i>, in no way allied to <i>Cyprinidae</i>, which contains the European carps. <i>Cirrhitidae</i>, says Guenther, may be readily recognized by their thickened undivided lower pectoral rays, which in some are evidently auxiliary organs of locomotion, in others, probably, organs of touch.

<hw>Carpet-Shark</hw>, <i>n</i>. i.q. <i>Wobbegong</i> (q.v.)

<hw>Carpet-Snake</hw>, <i>n</i>. a large Australian snake with a variegated skin, <i>Python variegata</i>, Gray. In Whitworth's `Anglo-Indian Dictionary,' 1885 (s.v.), we are told that the name is loosely applied (sc. in India) to any kind of snake found in a dwelling-house other than a cobra or a dhaman. In Tasmania, a venomous snake, <i>Hoplocephalus curtus</i>, Schlegel. See under <i>Snake</i>.

<hw>Carrier</hw>, <i>n</i>. a local name for a water-bag.

1893. A. F. Calvert, `English Illustrated,' Feb., p. 321:

"For the water-holders or `carriers' (made to fit the bodies of the horses carrying them, or to `ride easily' on pack-saddles)."

<hw>Carrot, Native</hw>, (1) <i>Daucus brachiatus</i>, Sieb., <i>N.O. Umbelliferae</i>. Not endemic in Australia.