bushman

n.

1) Settler in the bush.Used to distinguish country residents from townsfolk.

1852. `Blackwood's Magazine,' p. 522 (`O.E.D.'):

«Where the wild bushman eats his loathly fare.»

1880. J. Mathew, song, `The Bushman:'

«How weary, how dreary the stillness must be!

But oh! the lone bushman is dreaming of me.»

1886. Frank Cowan: `Australia; a Charcoal Sketch':

«The bushman . . . Gunyah, his bark hovel; Damper,his unleavened bread baked in the ashes; Billy, histea-kettle, universal pot and pan and bucket; Sugar-bag,his source of saccharine, a bee-tree; Pheasant, hisfacetious metaphoric euphism for Liar, quasi Lyre-bird; Fitfor Woogooroo, for Daft or Idiotic; Brumby, hispeculiar term for wild horse; Scrubber, wild ox; Nuggeting, calf-stealing; Jumbuck, sheep, ingeneral; an Old-man, grizzled wallaroo or kangaroo; Station, Run, a sheep – or cattle-ranch; and Kabonboodgery – – an echo of the sound diablery for ever inhis ears, from dawn to dusk of Laughing Jackass and from duskto dawn of Dingo – – his half-bird – and-beast-like vocalsubstitute for Very Good. . . .»

1896. H.Lawson, `While the Billy boils,' p. 71:

«He was a typical bushman, . . . and of the old bush school;one of those slight active little fellows, whom we used to seein cabbage-tree hats, Crimean shirts, strapped trousers, andelastic-side boots.»

2) One who has knowledge of the bush, and is skilled in itsways. A «good bushman» is especially used of a man who canfind his way where there are no tracks.

1868. J. Bonwick, `John Batman, Founder of Victoria,' pp. 78, 79:

«It is hardly likely that so splendid a bushman as Mr. Batmanwould venture upon such an expedition had he not been well.In fact a better bushman at this time could not be met with.»

1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. ii. p. 3:

«The worst bushman had to undertake the charge of the camp,cook the provisions, and look after the horses, during theabsence of the rest on flying excursions.»

1885. H. Finch-Hatton, `Advance Australia,' p. 40:

«Very slight landmarks will serve to guide a good bushman,for no two places are really exactly alike.»

1891. Rolf Boldrewood, `Sydney-side Saxon,' p. 78:

«One of the best bushmen in that part of the country: the mensaid he could find his way over it blindfold, or on the darkestnight that ever was.»

3) Special sense. See quotation.

1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 80:

«Some were what is termed, par excellence, bushmen – – thatis, men who split rails, get posts, shingles, take contractsfor building houses, stockyards, etc. – – men, in fact, who workamong timber continually, sometimes felling and splitting,sometimes sawing.»