Where “Swaggie” Comes From
A “swaggie” (short for swagman) was a traveller who carried a swag, a rolled bundle of bedding and belongings, and walked from farm to farm looking for work. Green’s Dictionary of Slang defines it as a vagrant or tramp, marks it Australian and New Zealand, and calls it an abbreviation of “swagman”.
Its earliest dated uses in Green’s are from 1875 and 1878, in Australian newspapers. The swagman is also the hero of “Waltzing Matilda”.
Source:
“The old swaggie camped by the creek.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
Today the word belongs to history and folklore. You’ll hear it in songs, stories and talk about the old bush.
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: SWAG-ee.
In conversation:
- A swaggie walked past the farm.
- He lived like a swaggie.
- The swaggies tramped from station to station.
Good to know: The swagman is a figure of Australian folklore and appears in “Waltzing Matilda”. “Swaggie” is the casual form of the word.
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