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>Peacocking</hw>, vb. <i>n</i>. Australian slang. To <i>peacock</i> apiece of country means to pick out the <i>eyes</i> of the land by selecting or buying up the choice pieces and water-frontages, so that the adjoining territory is practically useless to any one else.

1894. W. Epps, `Land Systems of Australasia,' p. 28:

"When the immediate advent of selectors to a run became probable, the lessees endeavoured to circumvent them by dummying all the positions which offered the best means of blocking the selectors from getting to water. This system, commonly known as `peacocking' . . ."

<hw>Pear, Native</hw>, name given to a timber-tree, <i>Xylomelum pyriforme</i>, Sm., <i>N.O. Proteaceae</i> (called also <i>Wooden Pear</i>), and to <i>Hakea acicularis</i>. See <i>Hakea</i>.

1852. G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes' (edition 1855), p. 219:

"The pear-tree is, I believe, an eucalyptus, and bears a pear of solid wood, hard as heart of oak."

[It is <i>not</i> a eucalypt.]

<hw>Pear, Wooden</hw>, i.q. <i>Native Pear</i>. See above.

<hw>Pearl-Perch</hw>, <i>n</i>. a rare marine fish of New South Wales, excellent for food, <i>Glaucosoma scapulare</i>, Ramsay, family <i>Percidae</i>.

<hw>Pedgery</hw>, <i>n</i>. i.q. <i>Pituri</i> (q.v.).