abo

[ ab-oh ]
/ ˈæb oʊ /
(sometimes initial capital letter)Australian Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

noun, plural ab·os.

a contemptuous term used to refer to an Australian Aborigine.

adjective

aboriginal.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of abo

1905–10; by shortening; see -o

usage note for abo

Since abo is simply a shortened form of aborigine, one could easily think that it is as neutral and inoffensive a term as Aussie usually is for an Australian. However, abo is as highly offensive to Australian Aborigines as nigger is to African Americans in the United States.

Words nearby abo

abnormal psychology, abnormalcy, abnormality, abnormalize, abnormity, abo, abo hemolytic disease of newborn, abo system, aboard, aboardage, abode

Definition for abo (2 of 3)

ABO

ABO system.

Definition for abo (3 of 3)

Åbo
[ aw-boo ]
/ ˈɔ bu /

noun

Swedish name of Turku.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for abo

  • I jes' went to de depot an' I dim' abo'd de fus' train I sees dat look lak she might be fixin' to go sommers.

    The Glory of The Coming|Irvin S. Cobb

British Dictionary definitions for abo (1 of 2)

Abo
/ (ˈæbəʊ) /

noun plural Abos (sometimes not capital) Australian old-fashioned, taboo

  1. short for Aborigine
  2. (as modifier)an Abo reserve

usage for Abo

This once quite common word is now completely unacceptable

British Dictionary definitions for abo (2 of 2)

Åbo
/ (ˈoːbuː) /

noun

the Swedish name for Turku
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012