# Matilda

/məˈtɪɫdə/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/matilda
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a heavy bag or bundle of belongings that a person carries while traveling on foot. This word is mostly used in old Australian stories about people walking through the countryside.

For teachers: a bundle of personal possessions or a bedroll carried by an itinerant worker or traveler. Historically associated with Australian bushmen and the song 'Waltzing Matilda'.

## Examples

- The traveler carried his matilda across the dusty plains.
- In the famous folk song, the swagman carries his matilda while searching for work in the Australian outback.
- The term survives primarily in historical literature and folk music, evoking an era of itinerant laborers who carried their entire lives in a matilda slung over their shoulders.

## Usage notes

- Archaic and largely restricted to Australian English; most commonly encountered in the phrase 'waltzing Matilda', meaning to travel with one's belongings.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.