quandong

English

Etymology

From Wiradjuri guwandhang.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkwandɒŋ/, /ˈkwɒndɒŋ/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

quandong (plural quandongs)

1. Any of several species of Santalum:
   1. A small southern Australian shrub (Santalum acuminatum) or its edible red fruit. [from 19th c.]
   2. The bitter quandong (Santalum murrayanum) or its fruit. [from 19th c.]
   3. The desert quandong (Santalum lanceolatum) or its fruit.
2. Any of many species of Elaeocarpus:
   1. blue quandong (Elaeocarpus angustifolius) or its fruit. [from 20th c.]
   2. Arnhem Land quandong, bony quandong (Elaeocarpus arnhemicus)
   3. Kuranda quandong (Elaeocarpus bancroftii)
   4. brown quandong (Elaeocarpus coorangooloo)
   5. smooth-leaved quandong, eumundi (Elaeocarpus eumundi)
   6. quandong (Elaeocarpus ferruginiflorus)
   7. white quandong, Northern quandong (Elaeocarpus foveolatus)
   8. brush quandong, blue quandong, white quandong, quandong (Elaeocarpus grandis)
   9. mountain quandong (Elaeocarpus holopetalus )
   10. Kuranda quandong (Elaeocarpus johnsonii)
   11. brown-hearted quandong (Elaeocarpus kirtonii)
   12. white quandong (Elaeocarpus kirtonii)
   13. tropical quandong (Elaeocarpus largiflorens)
   14. hard quandong (Elaeocarpus obovatus)
   15. Ash quandong (Elaeocarpus reticulatus)
   16. brown quandong, grey quandong (Elaeocarpus ruminatus)
   17. Northern quandong, hard quandong, Northern hard quandong (Elaeocarpus sericopetalus)
   18. hairy quandong (Elaeocarpus williamsianus)
3. highroot quandong (Aceratium concinnum)
4. buff guandong, grey quandong (Peripentadenia mearsii)
5. (Australia slang, now rare) A confidence trickster. [from 20th c.]
   • 1985, Peter Carey, Illywhacker, Faber and Faber, published 2003, page 228:

     ‘A spieler,’ Leah gently loosened the painful crab hold of the boy's hand. ‘ […] A trickster. A quandong. A ripperty man. A con-man.’