jillaroo

English

Alternative forms

• jilleroo

Etymology

Blend of Jill (“female given name, colloquial counterpart to Jack”) + jackaroo.

Noun

jillaroo (plural jillaroos)

1. (Australia) A female jackaroo, a woman who does the job of a jackaroo.
   • 2001, Vivienne Cleven, Bitin′ Back, author biography, title page,

     She left school at thirteen-years-of-age to work with her father as a jillaroo: building fences, mustering cattle, and working at various jobs on stations throughout Queensland and New South Wales.

   • 2007, Mia Balwyn, Australian Woman′s Survival Guide, page 18:

     You can also train to become a jillaroo through apprenticeship schemes at technical colleges (such as TAFE in New South Wales) or by attending a private jackeroo and jillaroo school.

   • 2007, Allan M. Nixon, Bush Aussies, unnumbered page:

     While John worked cattle full time, Rachael worked as a jillaroo part time and wrote part time. Her work saw her doing everything from cattle mustering to cleaning toilets.

   • 2008, Sara Dowse, Correspondence: Love & Money: Quarterly Essay, number 30, page 99:

     Only before daybreak was she allowed to get on a horse and do the things jillaroos are supposed to do, like rounding up cattle for the market.

Synonyms

• jackarooesse (rare, obsolete)