Waltham Blacks
Preserved but no longer current.
See BLACK ACT. Waltzing Matilda 948 Ward Waltzing Matilda, A song sung by the Austra- lian forces in the Middle East in World War II, and sharing with Lilh Marlene (#.v.) pride of place as the best soldiers' song of the period. The phrase was originally "Walking Matilda," and as such is found m Australia in the late 19th century; it means carrying one's bag or roll, as a tramp does.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Waltham Blacks” mean?
See BLACK ACT. Waltzing Matilda 948 Ward Waltzing Matilda, A song sung by the Austra- lian forces in the Middle East in World War II, and sharing with Lilh Marlene (#.v.) pride of place as the best soldiers' song of the period. The phrase was originally "Walking Matilda," and as such is found m Australia in the late 19th century; it means carrying one's bag or roll, as a tramp does.
Is “Waltham Blacks” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.