an Australian shrub, Gaultheria hispida, R. Br., N.O. Ericaceae. Acongener of the English winter-green, or American checkerberry,with white berries, in taste resembling gooseberries; calledalso Chucky-chucky (q.v.), and Native Arbutus.
1834. Ross, `Van Diemen's Land Annual,' p. 133:
« Gaultheria hispida. The wax-cluster, abundant in themiddle region of Mount Wellington, and in other elevated andmoist situations in the colony. This fruit is formed by thethickened divisions of the calyx, enclosing the small seedvessel; when it is ripe it is of a snowy white. The flavour isdifficult to describe, but it is not unpleasant. In tarts thetaste is something like that of young gooseberries, with aslight degree of bitterness.»
1880. Mrs. Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' p. 11[Footnote]:
« Gaultheria hispida. – – The `Snowberry' or `Wax cluster'is also called native Arbutus, from the form of the whiteflowers which precede the fruit. The latter is of a peculiarbrioche-like form, and as the deep clefts open, the crimsonseed-cells peep through.»
A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.
i.q. one of the many names for the birdcalled Silver-Eye, White-Eye, Blight-Bird,etc. See Zosterops....
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose