bang straw

See also: bang-straw

English

Alternative forms

• bang-straw

Etymology

From bang +‎ straw.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

bang straw (plural bang straws)

1. (idiomatic, archaic) A farmer's servant, especially a thresher.
   • 1938 December, James Norman Hall, “The Cheerful Tortoise (Doctor Dogbody's Leg)”, in The Windsor Magazine‎^[1], volume 89, number 528, page 9:

     Strange fastened it to his cane, for he fancied his little stick even on shipboard. With this he sprung onto the bulwark and roared out to Williams: 'I've not struck, sir! Tell your bloody bang-straws to try and hit my stick!'

References

• [Francis] Grose [et al.] (1811) “Bang straw”, in Lexicon Balatronicum. A Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence. […], London: […] C. Chappell, […], →OCLC.