wurley

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

n.


aboriginal name for an aboriginal'shut. For other words expressing the same thing, see list under Humpy. In the dialect of the South-East of SouthAustralia oorla means a house, or a camp, or a bird'snest.

1862. H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 110:

«Seeking, hoping help to find;

Sleeping in deserted wurleys.»

1865. W. Howitt, `Discovery in Australia,' vol. ii. p. 233:

«Immediately went across to the blacks' wurleys, where I found

King sitting in a but which the natives had made for him.»

1879. G. Taplin, `Native Tribes of South Australia,' p. 12,and Note:

«In case of a man having two wives, the elder is alwaysregarded as the mistress of the hut or wurley. The word wurley is from the language of the Adelaide tribe.The Narrinyeri word is mante. I have used `wurley'because it is more generally understood by the colonists.»

1880. P. J. Holdsworth, `Station Hunting on the Warrego':

«`My hand

Must weather-fend the wurley'. This he did.

He bound the thick boughs close with bushman's skill,

Till not a gap was left where raging showers

Or gusts might riot. Over all he stretched

Strong bands of cane-grass, plaited cunningly.»

1886. H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 42

«He took

His axe, and shaped with boughs and wattle-forks

A wurley, fashioned like a bushman's roof.»