yorga

English

Alternative forms

• yok, yoka, yorgah, york

Etymology

From Nyunga yoka (“woman”).

Noun

yorga (plural yorgas)

1. (Australian Aboriginal) A woman, especially an Aboriginal woman. [from 20th c.]
   • 1910, E. Hassell, My Dusky Friends

     At last he took a third york. She was a foolish young thing, but very fond of him ... he paid her more attention than the generality of husbands.

   • 1968, W. H. Douglas, Aboriginal Language of south-west Australia

     ‘Yokas’ is ‘girls’ (Note the English plural suffix on yoka).

   • 1981, Archie Weller, Day of Dog

     ‘Not much work going ’ere, orright, drinkin’ gabba and smokin’. Where’s all the yorgas?’ Pretty Boy grins.

   • 1982, J. Davis, Kullark

     I’ll tell you what ’e’ll do, e’ll finish up marryin’ some Wetjala yok, ’ave blue-eyed kids and ’e won’t want nothing to do with us.

   • 1986, A. Weller, Going Home

     ‘Yeah. Us blokes are fuckin’ muritch,’ said Morry lazily ... ‘Ssh, youse mob. Couple yorgas comin’ in.’

   • 1991, G. Ward, Unna you fullas

     Their mother had told them he met a yorga, whom he was mardong for.

   • 1996, Alf Taylor, ‘The Wool Pickers’, in Heiss & Minter, Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature, Allen & Unwin 2008, p. 174:

     ‘Right,’ said the old fella, ‘I'll get the ute ready, an' tell Auntie Florrie you an' me goin' out. You tell your yorgah too.’

Michoacán Mazahua

Noun

yorga

1. lizard