Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

wonga-wonga

[wong-uh-wong-uh]
noun
  1. a woody Australian vine, Pandorea pandorana, of the bignonia family, having showy clusters of yellowish-white flowers streaked with purple.
Show More

Origin of wonga-wonga

1890–95; by ellipsis from wonga-wonga vine, perhaps to be identified with wonga-wonga a kind of pigeon < Dharuk wa-ŋa-wa-ŋa
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for wonga-wonga

Historical Examples

  • Wonga-wonga, wong′ga-wong′ga, n. the large Australian white-faced pigeon—a table delicacy.

    Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)

    Various

British Dictionary definitions for wonga-wonga

wonga-wonga

noun
  1. Also called: wonga pigeon a large Australian pigeon, Leucosarcia melanoleuca
  2. an Australian evergreen vine of the genus Pandorea or Tecoma, esp T. australis
Show More

Word Origin

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