or Leeangle
(with other spellings),
aboriginal names for a native weapon, a wooden clubbent at the striking end. The name is Victorian, especially ofthe West; probably derived from lea or leang, or leanyook, a tooth. The aboriginal forms are langeel, or leanguel, and lea-wil,or le-ow-el. The curve evidently helped the Englishtermination, angle.
1845. Charles Griffith, `Present State and Prospects of the Port Phillip District of New South Wales,' p. 155:
«The liangle is, I think, described by Sir Thomas Mitchell.
It is of the shape of a pickaxe, with only one pick. Its name is derived from another native word, leang, signifying a tooth.
It is a very formidable weapon, and used only in war.»
1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discoveries in Australia,' vol. II.c. xiii. p. 479:
«A weapon used by the natives called a Liangle, resembling aminer's pick.»
1863. M. K. Beveridge,' Gatherings among the Gum-trees,'p. 56:
«Let us hand to hand attack him
With our Leeawells of Buloite.»
Ibid. (In Glossary) p. 83:
« Leeawell, a kind of war club.»
1867. G. Gordon McCrae, `Mimba,' p. 9:
«The long liangle's nascent form
Fore-spoke the distant battle-storm.»
1886. R. Henty, `Australiana,' p. 21:
«His war-club or leeangle.»
1889. P. Beveridge, `Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina,p. 67:
«Of those [waddies] possessing – – we might almost say – – – anational character, the shapes of which seem to have come downgeneration after generation, from the remotest period, theLeawill is the most deadly-looking weapon. It is usually threefeet long, and two and a half inches thick, having a pointedhead, very similar both in shape and size to a miner's drivingpick; in most cases the oak (Casuarina) is used in themanufacture of this weapon; it is used in close quarters only,and is a most deadly instrument in the hands of a ruthless foe,or in a general melee such as a midnight onslaught.»