bonzer

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Entered use 1900–05, origin unknown.

In 2020 James Lambert reviewed previous theories, and supports derivation from:[1]

  • boncer (“large marble”) < bouncer (“something prodigiously large”)

Lambert also notes as not supported by evidence:

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈbɒnzə/
  • Audio (AU)(file)

Adjective

bonzer (comparative more bonzer, superlative most bonzer)

  1. (Australia, New Zealand, informal) Remarkable; wonderful; excellent; terrific.
    • 1915, Young Men's Christian Associations. International Committee, For the millions of men now under arms, volume 2:
      To see their faces brighten and to hear their 'Thanks Cobber, that was bonzer!' was a joy
    • 1916, C. J. Dennis, "In Spadger′s Lane", in The Moods of Ginger Mick, 2009, Sydney University Press, page 36:
      To all the earth she gives the soft glad-eye;
      She picks no fav′rits in this world o′ men;
      She peeps in nooks, where ′appy lovers sigh,
      To make their joy more bonzer still; an′ then,
      O′er Spadger′s Lane she waves a podgy ′and,
      An′ turns the scowlin′ slums to Fairyland.
    • 1938, Xavier Herbert, chapter XIII, in Capricornia‎, New York: D. Appleton-Century, published 1943, page 220:
      You’ll make the bonzerest couple ever seen this side the Tropic.
    • 1945, Doglas Stewart, editor, Coast to Coast: Australian Stories 1945‎, page 51:
      By cripes, you couldn′t have a more bonzer place for doing the thing in style with girls.
    • 1991, Noel Virtue, Always the Islands of Memory‎, page 148:
      Inside sat one of the most bonzer sights she′d ever seen.
    • 2006, Philippa Todd, Dangerous Dating, page 110:
      The sadness about his father left his face, and he smiled. He seemed pleased to have something positive to do. / 'That's bonzer, Annie. Thanks' he said. 'You're a good sort. And as for Ches, well, he's real bonzer too.'
    • 2007, Eric Stone, The Living Room of the Dead, page 252:
      If playin' hero is so bonzer, what're you doin' in this job? Y'oughta be workin' for one o' those scandal rags, or with a crowd o' do-gooders, or for some investigation outfit or somethin'.

Translations

Noun

bonzer (plural bonzers)

  1. (Australia, New Zealand, informal, obsolete) An excellent person or thing.
    • 1904 August 28, The Truth, Sydney, page 1, column 7:
      King Ned is a "bonzer".

Synonyms

References
  1. James Lambert "What Makes a Bonzer Etymology?" (3 September 2020) Green's Dictionary of Slang

Further reading

Anagrams
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