bonzer

English

Alternative forms

• boncer
• bonza

Etymology

Entered use 1900–05, origin Unknown

Adjective

bonzer (comparative more bonzer, superlative most bonzer)

1. (Australia) Remarkable; wonderful.
   • 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.

   • 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'.

Synonyms

• (remarkable): bottler, ripper

External links

• bonzer at OneLook Dictionary Search
• Australian English Glossary from A to Zed - Travelogue
• Australian words: Encyclopedia II - Australian words - Old, declining or expired slang

Anagrams

• bronze