Australian and New Zealand colloquial term for a swagman — the iconic itinerant worker of the colonial and Depression-era outback, who carried all their possessions in a swag (a bedroll) on their back as they moved from station to station seeking work.
Australian and New Zealand colloquial term for a swagman — the iconic itinerant worker of the colonial and Depression-era outback, who carried all their possessions in a swag (a bedroll) on their back as they moved from station to station seeking work. Swaggie is the affectionate diminutive, stripping the romance from the image and replacing it with something more human and a little scruffy. Immortalised in 'Waltzing Matilda,' the swaggie is a central figure in Australian folk mythology.
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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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(Australia, New Zealand, historical) A man who travels around with a personal]] items; specifically, an itinerant person, often seeking work in exchange for food and lodging.
(Australia) To travel on foot carrying a swag (belongings wrapped in a blanket); to travel in this manner looking for work.
(AU, NZ) To travel on foot, carrying one's possessions.
(Australia, New Zealand, historical) A woman who travels around with a personal]] items.
The old swaggie turned up at the homestead gate looking for a meal and a night in the shed, same as they always did.
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(AU, NZ, colloquial) A swagman.
Swaggie means: A swagman.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. 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 most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
swaggie means: A swagman.. 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. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
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