A funny language thing

[Bally002]

I find the most interesting term in the Aboriginal Language is "Muckaty"  pronounced Muck-a-tee.
There is a cattle station named Muckaty station in central Australia.

'Muckaty' means in central Australian aboriginal terms "rifle' or "Firearm".  The term came from the west coast where the Dutch mariners landed or were ship wrecked late 1500's to early 1600's.  'Musket'.  I've met many a central Australian who carry on the genes.  Blonde Hair, Blue eyes and freckles in some upon their dark aboriginal skin.  Licencing being part of my duties years ago in central Aust meant I handed out some 'muckaty' licences...

If we assume the first part of the word 'Muck' derives from the shortening of the word 'musket', 'A-tee' must be a broken-down
expression of something else relevant to the area. Do you have any insight to what that may be?

(Intrigued Pom asking!)

Think of Musketeer.  A soldier armed with a musket.  Combine that with a primitive language and one I am familiar with where pronunciation is kin to pidgin.  My thoughts that this was described in native terms musketeer =  Muckaty.  Kinda like a child copying speech.  There are many languages in aboriginal central Aussie but I knew 'Mackaty' or 'Muckatee' was common with the Warlpiri and Pintupi residing out there.
So a man armed and described as a musketeer would, to my way of thinking be described in those original people's term, who had no concept of foreign language, as 'Muckaty'

Hope that helps.

Bally:)

Just adding.  Musketeer - Muskatee - couple of hundred years later might be - mucka tee.  Slang for Muskateer or whatever the  armed sailors called themselves in their language back then,  My thoughts.




A dutch musketeer painted by Jacob van Gheyn in 1608

1608

Bally:)