bungarra

English

Etymology

From a Kartu language.

Pronunciation

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈbʌŋəɹə/, /ˈbʌŋˌæɹə/

Noun

bungarra (plural bungarras)

1. (Australia) One of several species of large Australian monitor lizard, usually Varanus gouldii or Varanus panoptes.
   • 1902, A Mingled Yarn, March 30, The Sun, p. 4:

     Our jam-tree, too, as Villiers knows, / Adds zest to boiled bungarra; / But p'r'aps he doesn't also know, / Though jam-trees in profusion grow, / We're also "Canning-Jarrah"

   • 1923, A Thirsty Bungarra, April 5, The Mullewa Mail, p. 3:

     On nearing the spot they were surprised to see a 5ft., or more, bungarra with its head through the hand grip of the bag.

   • 1986, Jack Davis, “No Sugar”, in Heiss & Minter, editor, Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature, Allen & Unwin, published 2008, page 61:

     This one bungarra, an' he lookin' for berry bush. But he know that fella eagle watchin' him and he know that fella is cunnin' fella.

Synonyms

• Gould's goanna
• sand goanna