wurley

[ wur-lee ]

noun

, Australian.

, plural wur·leys, wur·lies.

1. an Aboriginal person's shelter, made of branches and leaves.
2. a nest, especially a rat's nest.

wurley

/ ˈwɜːlɪ /

noun

1. an Aboriginal hut

Word History and Origins

Origin of wurley¹

First recorded in 1840–50; from Kaurna (an Australian Aboriginal language, now extinct, spoken at the present site of Adelaide), recorded as wa(d)li

Word History and Origins

Origin of wurley¹

from a native Australian language

Example Sentences

A year ago, I think I dreamed of one of Bob and Ray’s characters: Tabitha Wurley, an older woman summoned by “This Is Your Life,” the television program that surprised guests by bringing out people from their long-ago pasts.

From The New Yorker

But Tabitha Wurley and her brother, who emerged from the wings to greet a woman he hadn’t seen or spoken with for seventy years, were unthrilled.

From The New Yorker

For a moment he faced the white man, swaying unsteadily, then he turned and went away to his wurley, leaving the drover victor on the field where he had so nearly met his death.

From Project Gutenberg

He looked up at the visitors, half in and half out of the wurley, and on his hands and knees just like an animal.

From Project Gutenberg

In case of a man having two wives, the elder is always regarded as the mistress of the hut or wurley.

From Project Gutenberg