A Gentleman and a Rascal

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A Gentleman and a Rascal
An autobiography by Brian Buzzard

Glossary of Terms

agisted - The paddocking of stock.
amber fluid - Beer.
back burning - Lighting a fire to burn into the main fire. Must be with the wind blowing into the main fire.
bloke - A fellow male.
blue - An argument or disagreement.
bush telegraph - Rumours and facts spread by mouth.
bulldust - Colouring the truth. Not quite a lie.
cackers - Undersized legal Crayfish.
come to the party - Agree to help.
off the rails - Go astray.
Cook’s Tour - A packaged tour where all comforts were found by a company called Cook’s Tours. To show someone the ropes.
Coolgardie Safe - A safe with an iron frame, hessian around the sides, water in a container on the top and flannel strips from the water tank to the hessian. Used to keep food cool.
crook ticker - Heart problem.
deal - Light timber to make boxes.
dining in - An evening meal which all officers in the services are expected to attend.
dobbed in - To tell on.
Dockers - Fremantle Football AFL Football Club.
Dog Act - Restriction on buying alcohol.
mae-west - A lifejacket strapped around the shoulders to keep you afloat, named after the film star Mae West.
middies - A large glass of beer, 10-12 ounces.
off the rails - Out of the mainstream.
piddle - To urinate.
pinch - Take without permission. Not quite steal.
roo - Kangaroo.
rort - A deception or a racket.
shandy - A drink made up of ½ beer and ½ soft drink, usually lemonade.
shiny bum - Clerk or administrative officer or airman at a desk in headquarters.
sitting ducks - Persons or aircraft on water which are as defenceless as a duck which is sitting in a flock on a lake.
tiger spirit - A term used by the Claremont and Richmond football clubs. The club mascot is a stuffed tiger in an airtight case.
true blue - A solid trustworthy person.
Tumbling Tommy - A scoop for cleaning out dams.
3% - Is the allowance made available to the Council for entertainment.

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