noun
Matilda
muh-TIHL-duh
noun
1
In Australian slang, a swagman's bundle of belongings, traditionally rolled up and carried on the back.
"The old swagman slung his matilda over his shoulder and set off down the road."
How to Use Matilda
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBest known today as a woman's first name, but in Australian tradition also a word for a swagman's rolled-up bundle of possessions.
Memory tip
You will most often meet this sense in the song "Waltzing Matilda," where "waltzing Matilda" means travelling on foot carrying your bundle.
Trace the full origin ↓Word Forms
Matildas plural, matildas plural
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The old swagman slung his _____ over his shoulder and set off down the road.
Etymology
From the given name Matilda, from Old High German Mahthilt, "mighty in battle" — its use for a traveller's bundle comes from Australian folk usage, most famously in the song "Waltzing Matilda."