yowie
n.— «Defence spokesman Major Klaus Boehme says the sniper’s outfit of hessian bags and appropriate camouflage paint evolved from a British idea of about 35 years ago. It had been developed in the mid-1970s when the Army started training snipers, and did not replace the camouflage uniforms worn when in the field. “Someone said about the first person who wore one that he looked like a “yowie,” and it’s been called that ever since,” he said.…Colonel David Oliver in his “yowie” sniper’s outfit and, above right, as he really looks.» —“Aussie ingenuity keeps our soldiers safely out of sight” by Bruce Hogben Advertiser (Adelaid, Australia) June 17, 1989. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
A new book about how animals perceive their environment reveals immense worlds beyond our own. A bee can see ultraviolet light, catfish have taste buds all over their bodies, and manatees use highly sensitive lips to examine nearby objects. Also...
If you’re in a book club, how do you decide what books to read? There are lots of different ways, depending on your group’s goals. And is it ever wise to correct someone who mispronounces a word? Sometimes you have to decide if it’s better to be...