English Reference

Word

kylie

Phoneticskylie

/ˈkaɪˌɫi/

Definition

n. a type of boomerang used by Aboriginal people in Western Australia for hunting.

n. a non-returning boomerang used by Aboriginal Australians, specifically in Western Australian dialects.

Examples

“The hunter used a kylie to catch small animals.”

“Unlike the returning boomerang often seen in tourist shops, a kylie is a heavy weapon designed to fly straight and strike with force.”

“Archaeological finds of ancient kylies suggest that these non-returning throwing sticks were essential tools for survival in the diverse landscapes of prehistoric Australia.”

Examples

simple

“The hunter used a kylie to catch small animals.”

contextual

“Unlike the returning boomerang often seen in tourist shops, a kylie is a heavy weapon designed to fly straight and strike with force.”

complex

“Archaeological finds of ancient kylies suggest that these non-returning throwing sticks were essential tools for survival in the diverse landscapes of prehistoric Australia.”

Usage

Commonly used in Australian English, particularly in Western Australia, to distinguish hunting tools from returning boomerangs.

Etymology

Uncertain, possibly from kylie (“boomerang”). Originally popular in Australia, the name has gained popularity elsewhere in the English-speaking world due to the fame of Kylie Minogue. Unrelated to Kyle, though often seen as its feminine equivalent.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Synonyms

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Frequent
Updated
Register
Dialect

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/kylie

English Reference