larrikin: anything from a disrespectful young man to a violent member of a gang (“push”). Was considered a major social problem in Sydney of the 1880’s to 1900. The Bulletin, a magazine in which much of Lawson was published, spoke of the “aggressive, soft-hatted stoush brigade”. Anyone today who is disrespectful of authority or convention is said to show the larrikin element in the Australian character.
lucerne: Alfalfa in US
mallee: dwarfed eucalyptus trees growing in very poor soil and under harsh rainfall conditions. Usually many stems emerging from the ground, creating a low thicket.
mateship: See Lawson story, “Mateship”. A heavily romanticised, but nevertheless very practical form of (male) loyalty to a (male) companion who travels with/works with him. A “mate” provides not only companionship, but help in emergencies. Typical of an Australian in the “outback”—or “Never-Never”, or under war conditions. A man without a mate was a “hatter”—“his hat covers his family”. Such a person might go “ratty” (see further in The romance of the Swag). Equivalent to the “buddy system” in SCUBA diving.
metalled: of a road, covered in crushed rock (e.g. “blue metal”)
mulga: Acacia sp. (“wattle” in Australian) especially Acacia aneura; growing in semi-desert conditions. Used as a description of such a harsh region.
mullock: the tailings left after gold has been removed. In Lawson generally mud (alluvial) rather than rock
myall: aboriginal living in a traditional—pre-conquest—manner
nobbler: a drink
nuggety: compact but strong physique; small but well-muscled