wowser

Definitions

1. One with strong moral views against excessive consumption of alcohol, gambling, pornography, etc., who seeks to promulgate those views.
   Australia, New-Zealand, derogatory
2. A lout or similar disruptive person.
   obsolete

Examples

““I’d like⟳ to come⟳ with you one day up to the top end⟳,” she said. “I suppose⟳ it’ll have⟳ to be after we’re married.” He grinned. “Plenty of wowsers back in Willstown to talk⟳ about it, if you came before.””

“As for the rest⟳, the pay⟳ is not bad, coming as it does from the pockets of the three local warlords who hired me: two graziers, one of whom is also a terrible wowser (everyone calls him 'Mr Prophet', though I call⟳ him - privately, of course - Mr Brimstone, or Old Blood-and-Thunderguts); the third is the owner of the pub.”

“When they have⟳ paid attention to temperance advocates they have⟳ tended to dismiss them as ‘wowsers’ or ‘puritans’ intent on suppressing pleasure.”

“Quite simply, to a wowser, adults should not be allowed to see⟳, hear⟳ and read⟳ as they wished, but should only be allowed to see⟳ hear⟳ and read⟳ that which fully conforms to Australia's Christian heritage[…].”

“He's a bit of a prig. A wowser. Very Methodist.”

“In size the wowser varies, for no matter⟳ where he's at, He takes up all the room there is— just like⟳ a cowboy's hat.”

“Its title was “The Time Raider," and this story, which has never been reprinted, was a wowser.”

“Seriously, I mean⟳ it: From Russia, With Love⟳ is a real wowser, a lulu, a dilly and a smasheroo.”

CEFR level