Definition of quamby in English:
quamby
verbquambying, quambied, quambiesˈkwɒmbi
[no object]Australian dated Lie down, especially in order to sleep.
the combatants quambied near the battlefield that night
Example sentencesExamples
- "Hey for the bush life! Quambying under a tarpaulin, wood fire, mutton, tea and damper!"
- He stated that some time before the woman happened to be "quambying" in a scrub close by the beach.
- Everyone 'quambied' like a blackfellow wherever his fancy led him.
- A squatter on the Werribee River recorded in his diary that the Aborigines were still 'quambying' on his run.
- The six combatants started for the 'battle-field' on Sunday afternoon, and quambied near the spot that night.
Origin
Early 19th century: from Wuywurung (an Aboriginal language) guwambi 'to sleep'.