Entries printed from Ironbark Colloquial Dictionary Online
© Bendigo Electronic Press 2000
ZEROTH EDITION 2000
furphy
Australian slang.
[ Associated with Furphy carts, drinking water
carts used in the 1914-18 war, manufactured at a foundry established by
the Furphy family at Shepparton, Victoria.]
A false report or rumour; an absurd story.
1916 Anzac
Bk. 56/1 These furphies are the very devil. Ibid. Furphy was
the name of the contractor which was written large upon the rubbish carts
that he supplied to the Melbourne camps. The name was transferred to a
certain class of news item, very common since the war, which flourished
greatly upon all the beaches. 1916 C. J. DENNIS
Moods of Ginger Mick 122 Soljerin's me game. That's no furphy.
scuttle-butt, scuttlebutt
nautical slang.
[ Associated with scuttle butt, a cask of drinking water on board ship.]
Rumour, idle gossip, unfounded report.
1901 Smoking Lamp
June 55/2 (title of miscellany column) Scuttle butt.
1933 Leatherneck July 18/1 We will endeavor to convey all of
the scandal, scuttle-butt, dope and dopes to you through the.. Editor.
campbell
local slang.
[ Associated with Campbell Bar, a social
location where drinks are served.]
Rumour - of higher class - but no more accurate.
1997 Corridor Talk
(June 55/2) This story about Bob's boast about his publications is just
another campbell.
2000 private conversation (late March) "there are more
campbells than you can poke a stick at on this vertical integration rot."
Ibid. "The campbell is that the fenced off car park near The Terraces has been sold to Exxon as a carbon credit."
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