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

1852. G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes,' c. vi,. p. 176, 3rd edition 1855:

"The geebung, a native plum, very woolly and tasteless."

1885. R. M. Praed, `Australian Life,' p. 113:

"We gathered the wild raspberries, and mingling them with geebongs and scrub berries, set forth a dessert."

1885. Rolf Boldrewood, `Robbery under Arms,' p. 255:

"You won't turn a five-corner into a quince, or a geebung into an orange."

1889. J. M. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 584:

"A `geebung' (the name given to the fruits of <i>Persoonias</i>, and hence to the trees themselves)."

<hw>Gerygone</hw>, <i>n.</i> scientific and vernacular name of a genus of small warblers of Australia and New Zealand; the new name for them is <i>Fly-eater</i> (q.v.). In New Zealand they are called <i>Bush-warblers</i>, <i>Grey-warblers</i>, etc., and they also go there by their Maori name of <i>Riro-riro</i>. For the species, see <i>Fly-eater</i> and <i>Warbler</i>. The name is from the Greek <i>gerugonae</i>, "born of sound," a word used by Theocritus.

1895. W. O. Legge, `Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science' (Brisbane), p. 447: