toe-ragger

n.

In the bush a term of abuse;though curiously in one or two parts of New South Wales theword «toey,» which is derived from it, is a term of praise, a «swell.» The word has been explained as of convict origin,that the rags were used to soothe the galling of fetters; butthe explanation is not satisfactory, for the part galled by theirons would not be the toe, but the ankle. A writer in `Truth'has cleared up the word (see quotation). It is of Maoriorigin. Away from Maoriland «toe-rigger» had no meaning, and afalse meaning and origin were given by the change of vowel.

1896. `Truth' (Sydney), Jan. 12:

«The bushie's favorite term of opprobrium `a toe-ragger' isalso probably from the Maori. Amongst whom the nastiest termof contempt was that of tau rika rika, or slave. Theold whalers on the Maoriland coast in their anger called eachother toe-riggers, and to-day the word in the form oftoe-ragger has spread throughout the whole of the South Seas.»