a lump of gold. The noun nugget isnot Australian, though often so supposed. Skeat (`EtymologicalDictionary,' s.v.) gives a quotation from North's `Plutarch'with the word in a slightly different shape, viz., niggot. «The word nugget was in use in Australia manyyears before the goldfields were heard of. A thick-set youngbeast was called `a good nugget.' A bit of a fig of tobaccowas called `a nugget of tobacco.'» (G. W. Rusden.)
1852. Sir W. T. Denison, `Proceedings of the Royal Societyof Van Diemen s Land,' vol. ii. p. 203:
`In many instances it is brought to market in lumps, or`nuggets' as they are called, which contain, besides the goldalloyed with some metal, portions of quartz or other extraneousmaterial, forming the matrix in which the gold was originallydeposited, or with which it had become combined accidentally.»
1869. Marcus Clarke, `Peripatetic Philosopher' (reprint),p. 51:
«They lead a peaceful, happy, pastoral life – – dig in a hole allday, and get drunk religiously at night. They are respected,admired, and esteemed. Suddenly they find a nugget, and lo!the whole tenor of their life changes.»
Queensland slang. See quotation.
1887. R. M. Praed, `Longleat of Kooralbyn,' c. iii. p. 25:
«To nugget: in Australian slang, to appropriate yourneighbours' unbranded calves.»
Ibid. c. xviii. p. 182:
«If he does steal a calf now and then, I know several squatterswho are given to nuggeting.»