gully rakers
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Cattle thieves in Australia, the cattle being stolen out of almost inaccessible valleys, there termed GULLIES.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “gully rakers” mean?
Cattle thieves in Australia, the cattle being stolen out of almost inaccessible valleys, there termed GULLIES.
Is “gully rakers” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.