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>Purple Berry</hw>, <i>n</i>. Tasmanian name for <i>Billardiera longiflora</i>, Lab., <i>N.O. Pittosporeae</i>. See <i>Pittosporum</i>.

1880. Mrs. Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' p. 11 [Note]:

"<i>Billardiera longiflora</i>, the well-known beautiful climber, with pale greenish bell-flowers and purple fruit." [Also pl. i.]

<hw>Purple Broom</hw>, <i>n</i>. See <i>Broom</i>.

<hw>Purple Coot</hw>, <i>n</i>. another name for the <i>Swamp-Hen</i> (q.v.).

<hw>Purple Fig</hw>, <i>n</i>. See under <i>Fig-tree</i>.

<hw>Push</hw>, <i>n</i>. a gang. The word is of late very common in Australia. It was once a prison term. Barrere and Leland quote from M. Davitt's `Leaves from a Prison Diary,' "the upper ten push." In Thieves' English it is—(1) a crowd; (2) an association for a particular robbery. In Australia, its use began with the <i>larrikins</i> (q.v.), and spread, until now it often means clique, set, party, and even jocularly so far as "the Government House Push."

1890. `The Argus,' July 26, p. 4, col. 3:

"`Doolan's push' were a party of larrikins working . . . in a potato paddock near by."

1892. A topical song by E. J. Lonnen began: