billabong en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈbɪləˌbɔŋ/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
- (Australia) audio
- /ˈbɪləˌbɒŋ/ (UK)
- /ˈbɪləˌbɑŋ/ (cot-caught-merger)
Etymology
From Wiradjuri bilabang, likely a compound from Wiradjuri bila (“river”) and Wiradjuri bong or Wiradjuri bung (“dead”).
Meanings
-
(Australia) An anabranch, backwater or oxbow lake that is temporarily cut off from the main river, especially one that is only filled with water during the rainy season and can sometimes dry up completely.
Oh there once was a swagman camped in the billabong, Under the shade of a coolibah tree, And he sang as he looked at the old billy boiling, 'Who'll come a'waltzing Matilda, with me.'
1895, “Waltzing Matilda”, Banjo Paterson (lyrics):
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| billabongs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
nahal · dry wash · arroyo · wadi · wash
Deriveds
Translations (18)
aoi awurukwa (Australian backwater lake) · jig bunungkurru (Australian backwater lake) · gbu bardaambarda (Australian backwater lake) · wrh bilabang (Australian backwater lake) · waq langgarnin (Australian backwater lake) · gjr bilibong (Australian backwater lake) · mph wurl (Australian backwater lake) · gge gugóndu (Australian backwater lake) · lmc ulungaruk (Australian backwater lake) · nrk yinta (Australian backwater lake) · xmu ngudetu (Australian backwater lake) · zmc waran (Australian backwater lake) · zml garwa (Australian backwater lake) · rop bilabong (Australian backwater lake) · jig langkana (Australian backwater lake) · nuy wurugu (Australian backwater lake) · gue langkarna (Bilinarra) (Australian backwater lake) · jig biningkurru (Australian backwater lake)