wurley

American  

[wur-lee] / ˈwɜr li /

noun

Australian.

plural

wurleys, wurlies

1. an Aboriginal person's shelter, made of branches and leaves.

2. a nest, especially a rat's nest.

---

wurley British  

/ ˈwɜːlɪ /

noun

1. an Aboriginal hut

---

Etymology

Origin of wurley

First recorded in 1840–50; from Kaurna (an Australian Aboriginal language, now extinct, spoken at the present site of Adelaide), recorded as wa(d)li

Example Sentences

In case of a man having two wives, the elder is always regarded as the mistress of the hut or wurley.

From Austral English A dictionary of Australasian words, phrases and usages with those aboriginal-Australian and Maori words which have become incorporated in the language, and the commoner scientific words that have had their origin in Australasia by Morris, Edward Ellis

For a moment he faced the white man, swaying unsteadily, then he turned and went away to his wurley, leaving the drover victor on the field where he had so nearly met his death.

From In the Musgrave Ranges by Sayce, Conrad H. (Conrad Harvey)

Poor Wills's remains we found lying in the wurley in which he died, and where King, after his return from seeking for the natives, had buried him with sand and rushes.

From Successful Exploration Through the Interior of Australia by Wills, William John

They also used to assist me in making a wurley, or breakwind, whenever they shifted camp.

From A Source Book of Australian History by Swinburne, Gwendolen H.

They also used to assist me in making a wurley or breakwind whenever they shifted camp.

From Successful Exploration Through the Interior of Australia by Wills, William John