aboriginal pigeon-English forsheep. Often used in the bush. The origin of this word waslong unknown. It is thus explained by Mr. Meston, in the`Sydney Bulletin,' April 18, 1896: «The word `jumbuck' forsheep appears originally as jimba, jombock, dombock, and dumbog. In each case it meant the white mist precedinga shower, to which a flock of sheep bore a strong resemblance.It seemed the only thing the aboriginal mind could compare itto.»
1845. C. Griffith, `Present State and Prospects of the PortPhillip District of New South Wales,' p. 162:
«The following is a specimen of such eloquence: `Youpilmillally jumbuck plenty sulky me, plenty boom, borackgammon,' which being interpreted means, `If you shoot my sheepI shall be very angry, and will shoot you and no mistake.'»
1855. W. Ridley, `Transactions of Philological Society,'p. 77:
«When they adopt English words ending in mutes, the blacks dropthe mute or add a vowel: thus, jimbugg, a slang name forsheep, they sound jimbu.» [It was not English slang butan aboriginal word.]
1893. `The Argus,' April 8, p. 4, col. 1:
«Mister Charlie, jumbuck go along of grass, blood all there,big dog catch him there, big jumbuck, m'me word, neck torn.»
1896. `The Australasian,' June 6, p. 1085, col. 1:
«Jumbuck (a sheep) has been in use from the earliest days,but its origin is not known.»