English edit

Etymology edit

From pseudo-French literally meaning 'always good', formed from French bon (good) + toujours (always).[1]

Adjective edit

bontodger (comparative more bontodger, superlative most bontodger)

  1. (Australia, slang, obsolete) Excellent; wonderful.
    • 1908 July 22, The Sydney Sportsman, page 7, column 2:
      Of the home forwards, Moir and Brackenrigg were the pick. The latter is a bon-todger goal-kicker[.]

Noun edit

bontodger (plural bontodgers)

  1. (Australia, slang, obsolete) Someone or something impressive and wonderful.
    • 1920 September 29, The Referee, Sydney, page 10, column 3:
      The preliminary, though always closely fought, was rarely really exciting till the last round which, to use a colloquialism, was a bontoger.

References edit

  1. ^ James Lambert "What Makes a Bonzer Etymology?" (3 September 2020) Green's Dictionary of Slang