witchetty grub

American  

[wich-uh-tee] / ˈwɪtʃ ə ti /

noun

1. the large white larva of any of several species of moth and beetle of Australia, especially of the moth genus Cossus, occurring in decaying wood and traditionally used as food by Aborigines.

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witchetty grub British  

/ ˈwɪtʃɪtɪ /

noun

1. the wood-boring edible larva of certain Australian moths and beetles

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Etymology

Origin of witchetty grub

First recorded in 1890–95; from Adnyamadhanha (an Australian Aboriginal language spoken around Lake Torrens, South Australia) wityati “witchetty grub,” perhaps equivalent to verb base witya “climb” + varti “grub, insect”

Example Sentences

The local example is found close to Alice Springs, where there are deposited a large number of churinga carried by the witchetty grub men and women.

From Folklore as an Historical Science by Gomme, George Laurence

In another ceremony of the witchetty grub totem, which followed immediately the one I have just described, the actor had two shields beside him.

From The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Volume I (of 3) The Belief Among the Aborigines of Australia, the Torres Straits Islands, New Guinea and Melanesia by Frazer, James George, Sir

The men of the witchetty grub totem enter the structure and sing songs about the production and growth of the witchetty grub.

From The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India—Volume I (of IV) by Russell, R. V. (Robert Vane)

Among the Arunta the men of the witchetty grub totem perform ceremonies for multiplying the grub which the other members of the tribe use as food.

From The Golden Bough by Frazer, James George, Sir

Thus one band would consist of frog people only, another of witchetty grub people only, another of Hakea flower people only, and so on.

From The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Volume I (of 3) The Belief Among the Aborigines of Australia, the Torres Straits Islands, New Guinea and Melanesia by Frazer, James George, Sir