different between bunyip vs yowie

English

Etymology

From Wathaurong ban-yib.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?b?nj?p/

Noun

bunyip (plural bunyips)

1. (Australia) A mythical Australian monster, said to inhabit swamps and lagoons.
   • 2007, Janet Parker, Julie Stanton (editors), Mythology: Myths, Legends and Fantasies, page 387,

     The bunyip here was considered to have a magical power over humans, causing them considerable misfortune. Places where there were many eels tended to be where bunyips lived, as this was their food. On one occasion, Aboriginal people claimed that a bunyip lured a woman to her death by distracting her with a large catch of eels. It was considered extremely bad luck to kill or injure a bunyip.
2. (Australia, slang, obsolete) An imposter or con-man.

Derived terms

• bunyip aristocracy
• bunyip bird

See also

• yowie

References

• Dixon, R. M. W., Bruce Moore, W. S. Ramson, Mandy Thomas (2006) Australian Aboriginal Words in English: Their Origin and Meaning, 2nd ed. edition, Oxford University Press, ?ISBN, pages 104–106
• Seal, Graham (1999) The Lingo: Listening to Australian English, University of New South Wales Press, ?ISBN, page 15

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Gamilaraay yuwi (“dream spirit”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: you'wi, IPA^(key): /?ja?wi/
• Rhymes: -a?i

Noun

yowie (plural yowies)

1. (Australia, cryptozoology) An ape-like monster or animal said to exist in parts of eastern Australia. [from 20th c.]
   • 1986, Bruce Pascoe, ‘The Slaughters of the Bulumwaal Butcher’, in Heiss & Minter (eds.), Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature, Allen & Unwin 2008, p. 101:

     The white population claimed that an escaped panther from a travelling circus was the culprit; others thought that a Yowie was responsible.

See also

• abominable snowman
• Bigfoot
• bunyip
• menk
• min min lights
• sasquatch
• yeti

Scots

Noun

yowie (plural yowies)

1. Diminutive of yowe (“ewe”)