<hw>Lubra</hw>, <i>n</i>. aboriginal name for a black woman. The name comes from Tasmania, appearing first in the form <i>loubra</i>, in a vocabulary given in the `Voyage de Decouvertes de l'Astrolabe' (Paris, 1834), vol. vii. p. 9, and was obtained from a Tasmanian woman, belonging to Port Dalrymple on the Tamar River. It is probably a compound of the Tasmanian words <i>loa</i> or <i>lowa</i>, a woman, and <i>proi</i> (with variants), big. In Victoria, the use of the word began at the Hopkins River and the vicinity, having been introduced by settlers from Tasmania, but it was generally adopted south of the Murray. North of the Murray the native women were called <i>Gins</i> (q.v.). Both words are now used indiscriminately.
1855. W. Blandowski, `Transactions of Philosophical Society of Victoria,' vol. i. p. 73 :
"The young man who wishes to marry has first to look out for a wife amongst the girls or <i>leubras</i> of some neighbouring tribe."
1864. H. Simcox, `Outward Bound," p. 87:
"Many lubras so black with their load on their back."
1885. R. M. Praed, `Australian Life," p. 23:
"Certain stout young gins or lubras, set apart for that purpose, were sacrificed."
1891. `The Argus,' Nov. 7, p. 13, col. 4:
"A few old lubras sufficiently dirty and unprepossessing."
1892. Gilbert Parker, `Round the Compass in Australia,' p. 28: