Meaning of mulga wire | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An informal gossip network, especially in a rural area such as the outback; also, a component in the network (either a person or an imagined wire).
   Australia, New-Zealand, countable, uncountable
2. A message or story transmitted through such an informal network, especially one containing false information.
   Australia, New-Zealand, countable, uncountable
3. A system for long-distance communication used by Aboriginal Australians, chiefly using smoke signals; also, a message or signal sent using such a system.
   Australia, countable, historical, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“There is a really good sketch⟳ of Micky, the lonely boundary rider, whose wonderful stock⟳ of news comes by "the mulga wires," who is full of scandal about the squatter's rams, and is "follered" by a phantom hut of leopard-wood slabs.”

“Lumps of silver as big as your head they're picking up. So the mulga wires say⟳.”

“"How did he receive⟳ word about the sick lubra?" / "I don't know⟳. Mulga wire, I suppose⟳."”

“That night, diggers from all over the field, having learnt by ‘mulga wire’ that one of their number⟳ had married Harry Albury's girl, gathered round the hut making cacophonous celebration […]”

“In the meantime, I had been receiving worrying reports about Nancy by mulga wire but could not find⟳ out for sure what was wrong.”

“‘The mulga-wire’s not working too good,’ he said by way of greeting. ‘I had no idea. When did you get⟳ back?’”

“Tom had been been out early, or had got what we call⟳ a bush telegraphy or mulga wire, for when they reached the Four Lanes he said—[…]”

“"What else did Nero say⟳?" / "Nothin'. Only to tell⟳ you when you came home. Wandin sent him the mulga wire, I suppose⟳."”

CEFR level