Cockies & budgies

Posted by Lotg September 17, 2004In reply to Cockatoo posted by Shae on September 17, 2004

I live near Cockatoo in Victoria, Australia. Is it an aboriginal name or a settlers idea of putting two chickens on the table, rather than the usual one?

The Online Etymology Dictionary comes to the rescue again:

cockatoo
1616, from Du. kaketoe, from Malay kakatua, possibly echoic, or from kakak "elder brother or sister" + tua "old." Also cockatiel , from Du. dim. kaketielje , which is perhaps influenced by Portuguese.

budgerigar
1847, from Native Australian, lit. "good cockatoo," from budgeri "good" + gar "cockatoo."

www.etymonline.com

Haha, you're a dag Kristine - I like your chooks on the table theory. Shae, thanks for the definition. I'm surprised actually. I had always assumed cockatoo to be an aboriginal word (but never checked), and I'm even more surprised about the definition of budgerigar. I'm up in the Blue Mtns and we have both here as well - but being a lazy Australian, we call them Cockies and Budgies.