AUSSIE, AUSSEY, OZZIE

The term "Aussies** was used by Australians early in
the present war, just after the first AustraUan troops
went across to France from Egypt. Men would be
heard to say, "Huh, Aussie is a batter country than
this, my oath," and gradually the term has spread until
now it is practically the only term used in that particu-
lar sense among all ranks of Australian soldiers, and
also by people who are in any way associated with them.
There are two ways of spelling the word — one ** Aussie^
and the other "Aussey." In a book shortly to be pub-
lished the author, C. Hampton Thorp, a one-time dig-
ger (soldier), maintains that Australia, as a country,
is spelled ** Aussie" for purposes of abbreviation, but
Australian fighting men abroad are termed "Ausseys."
— ^Baltimore Stor, Nov., 1918.
Our men felt the same way about the Australian private.
They liked the Tommy well enough, they were gratef id
to him, but when we were attached to the Australian



if



NEW WORDS SELF-DEFINED 15

regiments they were glad to be with the men "who
called a naU a nail and not a nile." The fondness be-
tween the soldiers was mutual. There was nothing
an Ozzie liked so much as fighting with a Yankee com-
pany. — Capt. Edwabd M. Kent, N. Y. Times, Feb.
23, 1919.
AVIATIK

"A little more, and undoubtedly you*d have been taken
prisoners by the aviatiks."

What's that you say?"

Yes; that's our nickname here [in Paris] for the
police, because of their frequent raids. We are often
the victims, for your true policeman is without pity.
It's an innocent title that hurts no one." — ^Marcel
Nadaud, Atlantic Monthly, November, 1918.
