mullock

American  

[muhl-uhk] / ˈmʌl ək /

noun

1. (in Australasia) refuse or rubbish, as rock or earth, from a mine; muck.

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idioms

1. poke mullock at, to ridicule.

mullock British  

/ ˈmʌlək /

noun

1. waste material from a mine

2. dialect a mess or muddle

3. informal to ridicule

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Other Word Forms

• mullocky adjective

Etymology

Origin of mullock

1350–1400; originally dialectal English; Middle English mullok, equivalent to mul dust, mold, rubbish (compare Old English myl dust; vowel perhaps from Middle English mullen; mull ⁴ ) + -ok -ock

Example Sentences

A slim youth had darted from behind one of the piles of mullock, and was running at full speed up the lead towards the head of the gully, followed by three foot police.

From In the Roaring Fifties by Dyson, Edward

It was Golden Gully still, but golden in name only, unless indeed the yellow mullock heaps or the bloom of the wattle-trees on the hillside gave it a claim to the title.

From While the Billy Boils by Lawson, Henry

They went to work as soon as it was dawn, in order to get mullock cleared away and dirt-winding over before the heat of the day began.

From The Black Opal by Prichard, Katharine Susannah

She’ll find her wits soon, Phœbe: They’re in a mullock, all turned howthery-towthery At the notion of a new mistress at Krindlesyke— She’ll come to her senses soon, and bid you welcome.

From Krindlesyke by Gibson, Wilfrid Wilson

Too busy shiftin' mullock to know what's goin' on.

From Such Is Life by Furphy, Joseph