woylie
Australian English name for the brush-tailed bettong, Bettongia penicillata, a small marsupial once widespread across southern Australia but now critically endangered.
Definitions
Australian English name for the brush-tailed bettong, Bettongia penicillata, a small marsupial once widespread across southern Australia but now critically endangered. The name comes from Noongar language. The woylie has been the focus of conservation efforts in Western Australia.
The wildlife ranger was cautiously optimistic that the woylie numbers in the reserve were finally stabilising.
Comments
(Australia) A species of bettong, .
"woylie" means: A species of bettong, .. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
"woylie" means: A species of bettong, .. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
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