| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Bushrangers. | | |
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Escaped convicts who have taken refuge in the Australian “bush,” and subsist by plunder. | 1 |
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“The bushrangers at first were absentees [i.e. escaped convicts] who were soon allured or driven to theft and violence. So early as 1808 they had, by systematic robbery, excited feelings of alarm.”—West: Tasmania. |
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