Glossary

Use this to help you with words and phrases found in the book.

Adhikrit Subba: Elephant section officer (elephant handler).
Axminster: British carpet manufacturer.
Ayo Gorkhali!: The fierce war-cry of the Ghurkhas.
bandicoots: Small Australian animals which look half-way between a mouse and a rabbit.
bombilate: A deep buzzing, throbbing mechanical sound.
chook: A chicken.
cozzies: Swimming costume, bathers, trunks. Clothes to swim in.
cravats: The cravat is a neckband, the forerunner of the modern tailored necktie and bow tie.
flip-flops: Sandal-like footwear made of rubber. Called "thongs" in Australia.
furphy: Australian slang for a rumour, or an erroneous or improbable story. The word comes from the gossip stories told around the water carts made by John Furphy & Sons and used in the First World War.
Gelibolu: The Turkish name for Gallipoli.
goog: An egg. Pronounced like "good", except with a "g".
Harriers: Jump-jet fighter aircraft used by the British which can take off and land vertically.
icy-pole: A flavoured ice-block (or popsicle) for eating.
Johnny Turk: The name that the ANZACs gave to their Turkish foes.
keep cockatoo: To be the look-out. To keep watch, like a cockatoo (bird) up in a tree.
Kinder Surprise: A chocolate egg containing a small toy.
mahout: The keeper and driver of an elephant. Pronounced "mah-hoot" ("oo" as in cook).
Mews: The Royal Mews is a combined stables and carriage house of the British Royal Family at Buckingham Palace.
Nepali Hattisar: Government elephant stables of Nepal.
nesting box: What kookaburras think human's apartments look like.
noggins: Heads.
nosh: A snack or light meal.
'ockertoos: Short for cockatoos. Also an "ocker" is an Australian who speaks and acts in an uncultured manner.
Peng-Fu: Martial arts practised by penguins, in particular, the First Royal Manly Squadron.
posh: Smart and fashionable. It comes from the phrase "port out, starboard home" which referred to the best (expensive) side of the ship for cruising.
postilion: A postilion rider is the driver of a horse-drawn coach, mounted on one of the drawing horses.
rubbety-dub: Rhyming-slang for pub.
smidge: A small amount of something. Short for smidegeon.
sook: Someone who is sulky or complaining. Pronounced like "look".
stickybeak: Nosey person, someone who minds other peoples business.
twittering: This has nothing to do with mobile phones – it's the way penguins talk.
whinging: Complaining or protesting, especially in an annoying or persistent manner.
whiffletree: A mechanism to distribute force evenly through linkages on a coach.