“to waltz Matilda” is to travel with a swag, that is, with all one’s belongings on one’s back wrapped in a blanket or cloth. The exact origins of the term “Matilda” are disputed; one fanciful derivation states that when swagmen met each other at their gatherings, there were rarely women to dance with. Nonetheless, they enjoyed a dance, and so they danced with their swags, which was given a woman’s name. However, this appears to be influenced by the word “waltz”, hence the introduction of dancing. It seems more likely that, as a swagman’s only companion, the swag came to be personified as a woman.
Another explanation is that the term also derives from German immigrants. German soldiers commonly referred to their greatcoats as “Matilda,” supposedly because the coat kept them as warm as a woman would. Early German immigrants who “went on the waltz” would wrap their belongings in their coat, and took to calling it by the same name their soldiers had used.
Bedroll carried by swaggie. When he walked the matilda bounced about, “waltzed”. The bedroll couild be a substutite for a female companion overnight, so got a female nickname (from German settlers).
Waltzline is All About Dance
Comments(10)
that’s a girl’s name
Full explanation here.
A girl named Matilda.
“to waltz Matilda” is to travel with a swag, that is, with all one’s belongings on one’s back wrapped in a blanket or cloth. The exact origins of the term “Matilda” are disputed; one fanciful derivation states that when swagmen met each other at their gatherings, there were rarely women to dance with. Nonetheless, they enjoyed a dance, and so they danced with their swags, which was given a woman’s name. However, this appears to be influenced by the word “waltz”, hence the introduction of dancing. It seems more likely that, as a swagman’s only companion, the swag came to be personified as a woman.
Another explanation is that the term also derives from German immigrants. German soldiers commonly referred to their greatcoats as “Matilda,” supposedly because the coat kept them as warm as a woman would. Early German immigrants who “went on the waltz” would wrap their belongings in their coat, and took to calling it by the same name their soldiers had used.
its a f-ing person youdipshit
I’m pretty sure it means his swag.
Matilda was a mock-romantic word for a swag, and to waltz matilda was to hit the road with a swag on your back.
His didgeridoo “and we sang and we danced and we waited on that billabong she come a dancing Matilda for you” .
It’s a Lady.
Bedroll carried by swaggie. When he walked the matilda bounced about, “waltzed”. The bedroll couild be a substutite for a female companion overnight, so got a female nickname (from German settlers).