spifflicated: punished, thrashed without mercy.
spree: prolonged drinking bout—days, weeks.
squatter: Someone who took up large areas of land, originally without official permission (“squatted”), for sheep especially. Became the “landed aristocracy” of Australia. (“Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred”) steever: Originally a Dutch coin. Used here like “penny”—or brass razoo.
sundowner: a swagman (see) who is NOT looking for work, but a “handout”. Lawson explains the term as referring to someone who turns up at a station at sundown, just in time for “tea” i.e. the evening meal. Line (2494) of actual text (not counting P.G. matter).
swagman (swaggy): Generally, anyone who is walking in the “outback” with a swag. (See “The Romance of the Swag”.) Lawson also restricts it at times to those whom he considers to be tramps, not looking for work but for “handouts”. In view of the Great Depression (1890—. In 1892 it was reckoned 1/3 men were out of work) perhaps unfairly. Perhaps because he was there. See ‘travellers’.
Tattersalls: The earliest public lottery in Australia. (1881)
tenner: a ten pound note.
tin-kettling: making noise by striking metal pots/pans. May be celebratory (weddings—in this collection, New Year’s Eve), or may indicate extreme social disapproval of someone.
travellers: “shearers and rouseabouts travelling for work” (Lawson).