a legendary monster said to inhabit swamps and lagoons of the Australian interior
Word origin
C19: from a native Australian language
bunyip in American English
(ˈbʌnjɪp)
Austral
noun
1.
a mythical creature of Aboriginal legend said to inhabit water and watercourses
2.
an impostor
adjective
3.
counterfeit; phony
Word origin
[1840–50; ‹ Wergaia (Australian Aboriginal language of the Wimmera area, Victoria)banib]This word is first recorded in the period 1840–50. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: colloid, creationism, dope, plaque, striation