gilgai

or gil·gie

[ gil-gahy ]

nounAustralian.
  1. a small gully or ditch.

  2. a small pond or pool of water.

Origin of gilgai

1
First recorded in 1895–1900, gilgai is from the Kamilaroi word gilgay

Words Nearby gilgai

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use gilgai in a sentence

  • The party camped on a small tea-tree "gilgai," or shallow water pan, and experienced another night of heavy rain with high wind.

    The Overland Expedition of The Messrs. Jardine | Frank Jardine and Alexander Jardine
  • gilgai and Little Bob came down too; but they were too old, an' they is goin' out west again to-night when they see us away.

    In Search of El Dorado | Alexander MacDonald
  • "I reckon we'll have to give it best," at length said gilgai Charlie, and I could see no alternative.

    In Search of El Dorado | Alexander MacDonald

British Dictionary definitions for gilgai

gilgai

/ (ˈɡɪlɡaɪ) /


noun
  1. Australian a natural water hole

Origin of gilgai

1
C19: from a native Australian language

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