myall

plural myalls

1. obsoleteAustralian AboriginalA stranger; an ignorant person.

   He […] flung himself into the outstretched arms of Anna. "Wazzer madder liddle man?" she crooned. "Aw wazzer madder wid de liddle myall now?"

   1938, Xavier Herbert, chapter V, in Capricornia, page 75

2. AustraliaAn Aboriginal person living according to tradition.

comparative more myall · superlative most myall

1. AustraliaAccording to Aboriginal tradition; traditionally indigenous.First known use 19th c.

   It was some kind of gadget that can take away all your myall words, transcribe what you say in better language so people can understand what you are talking about.

   2006, Alexis Wright, Carpentaria, Giramondo, published 2012, page 99

2. AustraliaIgnorant, stupid.

   ‘You blooming myall or what? What if the cops shot ya?’

   2018, Melissa Lucashenko, Too Much Lip, University of Queensland Press, published 2023, page 176

plural myalls

1. countableuncountableAny of various Australian acacias, especially the weeping myall, Acacia pendula, or the wood of such trees.

   The durable, dark-colored wood of the coast myall or mountain brigalow (A. glaucescens) has been likened to that of English walnut.

   1968, Thomas H. Everett, Living Trees of the World, page 185

   1 more example

   1859, John McDouall Stuart, journal entry, Third Expedition (In the vicinity of Lake Torrens, Explorations in Australia - The Journals of John McDouall Stuart, Echo Library, 2006, page 57, Friday, 30th December, Hanson Range. […] Changed our course to a very prominent hill (which I have named Mount Arthur) bearing 275 degrees, and after crossing two small myall creeks and a stony plain with salt bush and grass, at ten miles we struck a large myall and gum creek, coming from the north-west, with some very deep channels.

plural Myalls · alternative Myell

1. countableuncountableA surname from Middle English.
2. countableuncountableA locality in the Shire of Buloke, Victoria, Australia.
3. countableuncountableA locality in the Shire of Gannawarra, Victoria, Australia.