wallaby

[ wol-uh-bee ]

noun

, plural wal·la·bies, (especially collectively) wal·la·by.

1. any of various small and medium-sized kangaroos of the genera Macropus, Thylogale, Petrogale, etc., some of which are no larger than rabbits: several species are endangered.

Wallaby

¹

/ ˈwɒləbɪ /

noun

1. a member of the international Rugby Union football team of Australia

wallaby

²

/ ˈwɒləbɪ /

noun

1. any of various herbivorous marsupials of the genera Lagorchestes ( hare wallabies ), Petrogale ( rock wallabies ), Protemnodon, etc, of Australia and New Guinea, similar to but smaller than kangaroos: family Macropodidae
2. on the wallaby or on the wallaby track slang.
   (of a person) wandering about looking for work

Word History and Origins

Origin of wallaby¹

First recorded in 1790–1800, wallaby is from the Dharuk word wa-la-ba

Word History and Origins

Origin of wallaby¹

C19: from native Australian wolabā

Example Sentences

A wallaby hastily bounds towards sparse gum trees.

From BBC

Large marsupials like kangaroos and wallabies tended to avoid burrows, unless they had been flooded with rainwater; then they used them as watering holes.

From New York Times

It was most likely a mid-speed hopper, something like a swamp wallaby.

From Science Daily

Abroad, studies have shown wildlife crossings save money and lives, both human and animal, including saving jaguars in Mexico and wallabies and bandicoots in Australia.

From Seattle Times

As well, dwarf wallabies had another surprise for the researchers: The two dwarf species had different teeth that were the biggest.

From Science Daily