mallee
/ˈmæli/
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.23 in modern English
Meaning
noun
A type of scrubland with low-growing thick eucalypts, characteristic of certain parts of Australia.
Australian usage
noun
Any semi-desert region of Australia where such scrub is the predominant vegetation.
Australian usage
noun
Any of several low-growing eucalypts characteristic of such scrubland, especially Eucalyptus dumosa, Eucalyptus oleosa, and Eucalyptus socialis.
Australian usage
noun
The growth habit of certain eucalypt species that grow with multiple stems springing from an underground lignotuber, shared by species of related genera.
Australian usage
noun
Alternative spelling of mali (“a member of a caste in South Asia whose traditional occupation is gardening; hence, any South Asian gardener”).
Indian usage
name
A locality in the Wentworth council area, south western New South Wales, Australia.
Example Sentences
- "The ecology of much Western Australian mallee is poorly understood, so only a few general points can be made here. Mallee dominated by eucalypts including Eucalyptus redunca and E. eremophilia is mapped as widespread (Beard, 1975) on areas of brown calcareous earths north of Esperance (Northcote et al., 1967)."
- "Large areas of mallee shrublands are now either reserved specifically for biodiversity conservation or else managed sympathetically. Fire is a prominent feature of the semi-arid lands in general and the mallee shrublands in particular."
- "Although not totally destitute of animal life, in the summer season very few living creatures, beyond innumerable tribes of insects, are to be found within the Mallee."
- "'They're going to lynch you, Regerson,' Harry told him, grinning. 'You'd better take to the mallee before they come for you.'"
- "It made no difference that he had also invented several ploughs and a device for grubbing Mallee country or that people had journeyed all the way from Melbourne to inspect them."
- "An immense tract of country in this district is entirely occupied by a "scrub," as it is called in Colonial language, consisting of the mallee plant, Eucalyptus dumosa, the leaves of which at certain seasons become covered with this species of manna, which is known to the natives by the name of Lerp, the l being pronounced like the Italian gl."
Etymology
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈmæli/
- British English: /ˈmæli/