wonga-wonga

American  

[wong-uh-wong-uh] / ˈwɒŋ əˈwɒŋ ə /

noun

1. a woody Australian vine, Pandorea pandorana, of the bignonia family, having showy clusters of yellowish-white flowers streaked with purple.

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wonga-wonga British  

/ ˈwɒŋəˈwɒŋə /

noun

1. Also called: wonga pigeon.  a large Australian pigeon, Leucosarcia melanoleuca

2. an Australian evergreen vine of the genus Pandorea or Tecoma, esp T. australis

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Etymology

Origin of wonga-wonga

1890–95; by ellipsis from wonga-wonga vine, perhaps to be identified with wonga-wonga a kind of pigeon < Dharuk wa-ŋa-wa-ŋa

Example Sentences

The wonga-wonga and bronze-wing and great fruit-pigeons are, like the "bald-pates" of Jamaica, all favourite birds with sportsmen, and some of the birds are far more brightly coloured than ours.

From Birds in the Calendar by Aflalo, Frederick G. (Frederick George)

At Captain King's table I tasted the wonga-wonga pigeon; it is the largest of any of the Australian kinds, and the flesh is very white and rich.

From Discoveries in Australia, Volume 1. With an Account of the Coasts and Rivers Explored and Surveyed During The Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the Years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43. By Command of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Also a Narrative Of Captain Owen Stanley's Visits to the Islands in the Arafura Sea. by Stokes, John Lort