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esky

A cooler / icebox for drinks and food.

ˈes.kiBoomerhistorical178 viewsLast reviewed Sep 6, 2026+ Add a definition
🇦🇺 Australian & NZ slang
2 definitions
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Australia
#1·Apr 26, 2026AUS

A cooler / icebox for drinks and food. Genericized trademark — Esky was the dominant brand.

"Bring the esky to the beach."
Origin: Australian English; from the brand name Esky (Malley's Eskimo, 1950s).
Cluster: approval
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#2·May 2, 2026

An insulated picnic cooler, using ice or refrigerated blocks to keep food and drinks cool.

For parents

Esky means: An insulated picnic cooler, using ice or refrigerated blocks to keep food and drinks cool.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. This is a food-related word and harmless in itself. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

esky means: An insulated picnic cooler, using ice or refrigerated blocks to keep food and drinks cool.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.

Cluster: eat
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🇦🇺About Australian & NZ slang slang

Aussie and Kiwi vocabulary — bogan, daggy, brekkie, sheila, bach, jandals — the whole Antipodean lexicon, including outback dialect, surf and beach culture, and Sydney/Melbourne street slang.

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