bullockyadj.n.
A. adj.
1. Of the nature of or relating to bullocks.
ΚΠ
1879 A. C. Grant Bush-life in Queensland iii, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Dec. 714/1 As a rule, the conversation was very horsey or bullocky.
2. Having to do with driving bullocks or managing cattle. Australian.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping of cattle > [adjective]
rancheral1847
riggish1881
bullocky1885
1885 T. L. Work in Australasian Printers' Keepsake 16 ‘When you make Mokepilly,’ quoth one of the sunburnt bullocky men, ‘keep on the brush fence…’
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer xii. 121 By George, Jack, you're a regular bullocky boy.
3. Resembling a bullock.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > bull > [adjective] > of or like a bullock
bullocky1890
1890 Temple Bar Jan. 118 With more enthusiasm than persons of his bullocky conformation commonly exhibit.
1892 Illustr. Sporting & Dramatic News 27 Aug. 862/3 Deer get bullocky if fed on ordinary cattle rations.
1954 E. C. Studholme Te Waimate (ed. 2) xx. 179 The swine made a bullocky rush for home.
B. n.
a. A bullock-team driver. Australian and New Zealand colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > driver or operator of vehicle > [noun] > driver of team of animals > of bullocks
bullock-driver1792
bullock-puncher1856
bull-whacker1858
bull-puncher1872
bullock-wainster1883
bullocker1889
bullocky1889
1889 in A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang
1891 G. Chamier Philosopher Dick II. xii. 335 ‘And as for them bullockies,’ said she, [etc.].
1900 H. Lawson On Track 49 The party had been increased by Jimmy Nowlett, the bullocky.
1926 K. S. Prichard Working Bullocks i Red Burke was the youngest bullocky in the Karri to own his team.
1934 T. Wood Cobbers vi. 82 He was a bullocky, one of a race which speaks straight and spares none, like the bargees.
1966 ‘J. Hackston’ Father clears Out 92 A red-bearded, six-foot bullocky, known everywhere for his cleverness with his whip.
b. Language of the sort used by bullock-drivers; swearing. Australian and New Zealand slang.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > malediction > [noun] > profane language
swarec1200
shit-wordc1275
words of villainya1300
filtha1400
reveriec1425
bawdry1589
scurrility1589
bawdy1622
tongue-worm1645
borborology1647
Billingsgatry1673
double entendre1673
smut1698
blackguardism1756
slang1805
epithet1818
dirty word1842
French1845
language1855
bad languagec1863
bestiality1879
swear-word1883
damson-tart1887
comminative1888
double entente1895
curse-word1897
bang-words1906
soldier's farewell1909
strong languagea1910
dirty story1912
dirty joke1913
bullocky1916
shitticism1936
Anglo-Saxonism1944
sweary1994
1916 Anzac Bk. 103/2 We heard fragments of language, of the category known in Australia as ‘bullocky’.
1941 S. J. Baker N.Z. Slang v. 47 The noun bullocky has even been evolved to describe the language used by such men.
c. bullocky's (or bullockys') joy: treacle or golden syrup. Australian and New Zealand slang.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > additive > sweetener > syrup > [noun] > in sugar manufacture > golden syrup
golden syrup1839
bullocky's (or bullockys') joy1918
1918 R. H. Knyvett ‘Over There’ with Australians iv. xvii. 158 This last is merely molasses or ‘golden syrup’ called ‘bullocky's joy’..because it is the chief covering for slices of bread with the bullock-driver.
1929 A. Russell Diary 6 Mar. in Tramp-royal in Wild Austral. (1934) xxxi. 202 Damper and ‘bullockys' joy’ (treacle) take the place of porridge.
1946 L. R. C. Macfarlane Amuri iii. 109 Out in camp he lived on hard bread, meat and bullockey's joy (treacle).
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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adj.n.1879