blackfellow's bread: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowHistorical, Ethnographic, Technical (Mycology/Botany)
Quick answer
What does “blackfellow's bread” mean?
A colonial-era Australian term for the large, edible underground fungus (Hypogaea sp.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A colonial-era Australian term for the large, edible underground fungus (Hypogaea sp.) consumed by Aboriginal peoples.
Specifically refers to the sclerotium of the fungus Laccocephalum mylittae (formerly Polyporus mylittae), known as native bread or blackfellow's bread, used as a food source by Aboriginal Australians; now largely a historical/ethnobotanical term.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is specific to Australian English and its historical interaction with Aboriginal cultures. It is not used in British or American English outside of very specific historical or academic contexts.
Connotations
In all varieties: Historical, colonial, now offensive/archaic. Its use today is largely restricted to discussions of historical texts, ethnobotany, or colonial history.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage. Likely only encountered in historical documents or specialized academic writing.
Grammar
How to Use “blackfellow's bread” in a Sentence
be called ~be known as ~ (historical)refer to ~ as (archaic)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blackfellow's bread” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The blackfellow's bread fungus was a noted food source.
- He wrote about blackfellow's bread specimens.
American English
- The blackfellow's bread fungus was a documented food source.
- She studied blackfellow's bread samples.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used cautiously in historical, anthropological, or ethnobotanical papers, often in quotes or with commentary on terminology.
Everyday
Not used in modern everyday Australian English; would be considered archaic and offensive.
Technical
Used in mycology and botany, but the scientific name is strongly preferred over this colloquial/historical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blackfellow's bread”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blackfellow's bread”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blackfellow's bread”
- Using it as a current term.
- Misunderstanding it as a type of loaf bread.
- Using it without contextual awareness of its offensive nature.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered a dated and offensive colonial term. Modern preferred terms are 'native bread' or the scientific name.
It is the sclerotium (a dense mass of fungal tissue) of the fungus Laccocephalum mylittae, which was roasted and eaten by Aboriginal peoples in Australia.
Virtually no. It is a highly specific term from Australian colonial history and ethnobotany.
'Blackfellow' is an archaic, colonial term used by settlers to refer to Aboriginal men. It is derogatory and reduces a diverse range of peoples and cultures to a simplistic, racialized label.
A colonial-era Australian term for the large, edible underground fungus (Hypogaea sp.
Blackfellow's bread is usually historical, ethnographic, technical (mycology/botany) in register.
Blackfellow's bread: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblækfeləʊz ˈbrɛd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblækfɛloʊz ˈbrɛd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a historical Australian settler's diary entry: 'The blackfellow's bread, a fungus from the earth, was their sustenance.' This links the term to its specific, historical context.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD AS RESOURCE/CULTURAL ARTEFACT (where the 'bread' metaphor signifies a staple food, but the possessive marks it as culturally specific and observed from an outsider/colonial perspective).
Practice
Quiz
In what context would the term 'blackfellow's bread' be most appropriately used today?