shiralee Austral. slang.
(ʃɪrəˈliː)
Also shirallee.
[Origin unknown.]
A bundle of blankets or personal belongings, a swag (sense 10).
| 1892 G. Parker Round Compass in Australia 49 Let him down easy and slow... Drop in his shirallee and water-bag by him. 1945 Baker Austral. Lang. v. 102 A drum..is the equivalent of swag,..shiralee,..or bluey as the tramp's rolled blanket is variously called. 1955 D. Niland (title) The shiralee. 1955 Times 4 Aug. 9/2 The shiralee is the swag, the burden, the Australian swagman carries. 1974 Sunday Sun (Brisbane) 5 May 4/2 The fences, the barns, the houses—they're all gone and I'm out on the road with my shiralee. |