Where "Corroboree" Comes From
Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain
"Corroboree" comes from Dharug, the Aboriginal language of the Sydney region, specifically the word garabara, meaning "to dance" or a ceremonial gathering. British colonists recorded it phonetically as caribberie in journals in the early colonial period.
Corroborees could be sacred, festive or warlike in character, and some were public gatherings while others were restricted to particular people where stories were shared, news was exchanged between neighbouring clans, and song, dance, costume and body decoration were performed.
“Communities gathered by the river for a traditional corroboree celebrating their ancestors' songs.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
It is respected as the primary historical term for Australian Indigenous ceremonial gatherings and community cultural performances.
In informal Australian speech, it is also occasionally used figuratively to describe any lively, energetic gathering or noisy meeting of people.
ð Sources & Further Reading
- Australian National Dictionary Centre, ANU
- List of English words of Australian Aboriginal origin — Wikipedia
- corroboree - Wiktionary
- Corroboree - Wikipedia
Part of our Aboriginal Loanwords collection →
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