`Humping bluey' is for a workman to walk in search of work."

1891. W. Tilley, `The Wild West of Tasmania,' p. 29:

"Leehan presents an animated scene . . . . Heavily laden
drays, pack-horses and mules, form constant processions
journeying from Dundas or Trial; miners with their swags,
surveyors in their `blueys' . . . all aid effectively in the
panorama."

<hw>Board</hw>, <i>n</i>. term used by shearers. See quotation.

1893. `The Herald' (Melbourne), Dec. 23, p. 6, col. 1:

"`The board' is the technical name for the floor on which the
sheep are shorn."

<i>With a full board</i>, with a full complement of shearers.

1894. `The Herald,' Oct. 6, p. 1. Col. 2:

"The secretary of the Pastoralists' Association . . . reports
that the following stations have started shearing with full
boards."

<hw>Boar-fish</hw>, <i>n</i>. a name applied in England to
various dissimilar fishes which have projecting snouts.
(`Century.') In New Zealand it is given to <i>Cyttus
australis</i>, family <i>Cyttidae</i>, which is related to the
<i>John Dory</i> (q.v.). This name is sometimes applied to it,
and it is also called <i>Bastard Dory</i> (q.v.). In Melbourne
the <i>Boar-fish</i> is <i>Histiopterus recurvirostris</i>,
family <i>Percidae</i>, and <i>Pentaceropsis
recurvirostris</i>, family <i>Pentacerotidae</i>.
Mrs. Meredith, in `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' 1880 (pl. vi.),
figures <i>Histiopterus recurvirostris</i> with the vernacular
name of <i>Pig-faced Lady</i>. It is a choice edible fish.

<hw>Boil down</hw>, <i>v</i>. to reduce a statement to its
simplest form; a constant term amongst pressmen. Over the
reporters' table in the old `Daily Telegraph' office
(Melbourne) there was a big placard with the words-"Boil it
down." The phrase is in use in England. `O.E.D.' quotes
`Saturday Review,' 1880. The metaphor is from the numerous
boiling-down establishments for rendering fat sheep into
tallow. See quotation, 1878.

1878. F. P. Labilliere, `Early History of the Colony of
Victoria,' vol. ii. p. 330:

"The first step which turned the tide of ill-fortune was the
introduction of the system of boiling down sheep. When stock
became almost worthless, it occurred to many people that, when
a fleece of wool was worth from half-a-crown to three shillings
in England, and a sheep's tallow three or four more, the value
of the animal in Australia ought to exceed eighteenpence or two
shillings. Accordingly thousands of