settler's clock: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareInformal, Historical, Regional (Australia/NZ)
Quick answer
What does “settler's clock” mean?
The willie wagtail, a small Australian bird known for its distinctive dawn and dusk calls.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The willie wagtail, a small Australian bird known for its distinctive dawn and dusk calls.
A nickname for any bird whose regular calls serve as a natural time indicator for people in rural or colonial settings, particularly in Australia.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is not used in the UK or US. It is specifically Australasian.
Connotations
In Australia, it carries connotations of colonial history, rural life, and connection to nature. Elsewhere, it is unknown or recognized only as an exoticism.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency globally; primarily found in historical texts or discussions of Australian fauna and folklore.
Grammar
How to Use “settler's clock” in a Sentence
The settler's clock [called at dawn].They relied on the [settler's clock].known as the settler's clockVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, ecological, or cultural studies discussing Australian colonial life or indigenous fauna nomenclature.
Everyday
Very rare; might be used by older generations or in rural Australian communities with a sense of nostalgia.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts; ornithologists use the scientific name.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “settler's clock”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “settler's clock”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “settler's clock”
- Using it as a general term for any clock.
- Spelling as 'settlers clock' without the apostrophe.
- Assuming it is current, common usage.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a metaphorical name for a bird (the willie wagtail) whose calls were so regular at dawn and dusk that settlers used them as a time signal.
It is an informal, historical term specific to Australia and New Zealand, referencing the colonial period.
It would sound archaic or deliberately poetic. In most contexts, using the bird's common name ('willie wagtail') is clearer.
Yes, many cultures have names for birds or animals associated with time, e.g., the 'knocker-up' in industrial Britain, or birds like the rooster serving as a 'nature's alarm clock'.
The willie wagtail, a small Australian bird known for its distinctive dawn and dusk calls.
Settler's clock is usually informal, historical, regional (australia/nz) in register.
Settler's clock: in British English it is pronounced /ˌset.ləz ˈklɒk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌset.lɚz ˈklɑːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As reliable as a settler's clock.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an early settler waking up NOT to a ringing clock, but to the cheerful song of a black-and-white bird outside the window—nature's alarm.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURE IS A MECHANISM (a bird is a timekeeping device).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'settler's clock'?