peg-out

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

v. tr.


to mark out a gold-claim underthe Mining Act, or a Free-Selection (q.v.) under theLand Act, by placing pegs at the corners of the land selected.Used also metaphorically.

1858. W. H. Hall, `Practical Experiences at the Diggings inVictoria,' p. 23:

«I selected an unoccupied spot between two holes . . . peggedout eight square feet, paid the licence fee.»

1880. G. Sutherland, `Tales of Goldfields,' p. 58:

«He was in high hopes that he might be one of the first to pegout ground on the goldfield.»

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `The Miner's Right,' c. iii. p. 32:

«The pegging out, that is, the placing of four stout sticks,one at each corner, was easy enough.»

1891. W. Tilley, `Wild West of Tasmania,' p. 8:

«Making their way to Heemskirk, where they were the first topeg out land for ten.»

Ibid. Preface:

«The writer . . . should be called on to defend his conductin pegging out an additional section on the outskirts of thefield of literature.»

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