The Concise Macquarie Dictionary (Australia's authoritative dictionary)
gives the following meanings:
donga: 1. a shallow gully or dried out watercourse
2. a makeshift shelter
The Shorter Oxford Dictionary:
donga: a ravine or watercourse with steep sides (South Africa: Bantu)
But in the Murray Mallee areas of South Australia we use the word to
describe the great Australian Outback eg "he's gone travelling out in the
donga". I've used this word in this way for many of my 50 years - I never
knew it had those other meanings.
The things one learns on Birding-Aus - all the way from the US of A !!!
Happy Birding,
Trevor Hampel
Murray Bridge.
----------
> From: Tom and Dixie <>
> To:
> Subject: DONGA
> Date: Tuesday, 31 March 1998 14:27
>
>
> At the outset I must apologize for the non-birding question. However,
> being a non-native speaker I often have trouble understanding Australian
> context. The question is: " what is the meaning of the word DONGA?
Tom,
> The Yank from Oregon <>
>
|
