Word of the Day

October 2, 2005 1:50 PM

Assbandit: n. Literally, one who steals asses.

In colonial times, with dysentery being a far too common cause of death, a lucrative black-market arose around the trading of asses. A freshly harvested ass could sell for several pounds. Ass-bandits roamed the countryside, accosting travellers and making off with their asses.

In the Australian outback, so-called 'rumprangers' sometimes became local celebrities, and even national heroes. The most celebrated was Ned 'four-cheeks' Kelly, whose famous last stand involved him striding out to meet police in body-armour constructed entirely out of asses. Unfortunately, he soon discovered that the ass, as versatile as it is, is not bulletproof.

In America, local laws named this crime 'Highway Ass-Robbery', and thus the term 'Hershey Highwayman' was coined.

5 Comments

Heh, I just took up road cycling in preparation for a triathlon; at many times in the last few week I've wished I could pick up a cheap knock-off ass on ebay.

Strangely enough, the Macquarie already has a definition for ass-bandit. I don't have a copy handy, so I'm going from memory, but it's something along the lines of "a sexually aggressive homosexual."

What they put in dictionaries these days...

This is a strange way to come out, Charles.

It's ARSE Charles ... Ned Kelly's suit had to be made of ARSES. An Ass is a Donkey.

I, er, sit corrected.

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