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>Duckbill</hw>, <i>n</i>. See <i>Platypus</i>. Sometimes also called <i>Duckmole</i>.

<hw>Duckmole</hw>, <i>n</i>. See <i>Platypus</i>.

1825. Barron Field, `First Fruits of Australian Poetry,' in `Geographical Memoirs of New South Wales,' p. 496:

"When sooty swans are once more rare,
And duck-moles the museum's care."

[Appendix : "Water or duck-mole.">[

1875. Schmidt, `Descent and Darwinism,' p. 237:

"The Ornithorhyncus or duck-mole of Tasmania."

<hw>Duck-shoving</hw>, and <hw>Duckshover</hw>, <i>n</i>. a cabman's phrase.

In Melbourne, before the days of trams, the wagonette-cabs used to run by a time-table from fixed stations at so much (generally 3<i>d</i>.) a passenger. A cabman who did not wait his turn on the station rank, but touted for passengers up and down the street in the neighbourhood of the rank, was termed a <i>Duck-shover</i>.

1870. D. Blair, `Notes and Queries,' Aug. 6, p. 111: