yowie

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Gamilaraay yuwi (“dream spirit”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: you'wi, IPA^(key): /ˈjaʊwi/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aʊi

Noun

yowie (plural yowies)

1. (Australia, cryptozoology) An ape-like monster or animal said to exist in parts of eastern Australia. [from 20th c.]
   • 1986, Bruce Pascoe, “The Slaughters of the Bulumwaal Butcher”, in Anita Heiss, Peter Minter, editors, Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature, Allen & Unwin, published 2008, page 101:

     The white population claimed that an escaped panther from a travelling circus was the culprit; others thought that a Yowie was responsible.

See also

• abominable snowman
• Bigfoot
• bunyip
• menk
• min min lights
• sasquatch
• yeti

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English yowie.

Proper noun

yowie f

1. (Australian Aboriginal mythology) yowie

Scots

Noun

yowie (plural yowies)

1. Diminutive of yowe (“ewe”)