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Definition of matilda

matilda

/məˈtɪl.də/
Ma · til · da
Plural:matildas
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matilda Lexical Profile

matilda Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Australian A bundle or bedroll of personal belongings carried over the shoulders by an itinerant worker or swagman.

Example

"The shearer slung his dusty matilda over his shoulder and set off down the track toward the next station."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for matilda

Word Nuance & Usage

In Australian English, 'matilda' is most famously used in the phrase 'waltzing Matilda', meaning traveling on foot while carrying one's belongings in a rolled-up blanket.

• Rhymes for matilda

• Nearby Words

mathematician
mathematics
mathlete
matilda
matilija poppy
matinee
matisia

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in late 19th-century Australian slang from the female given name Matilda (of Old High German origin meaning 'strength in battle'), humorously personifying a bushman's rolled blanket or bedroll as his sole traveling companion.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Matilda. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/matilda
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