bonzer

English

Alternative forms

boncer (obsolete)
bonza

Etymology

Entered use 1900–05, origin Unknown

In 2020 James Lambert reviewed previous theories, and supports derivation from:[1]

boncer (“large marble”) < bouncer (“something prodigiously large”)

Lambert also notes as not supported by evidence:

bonanza
French bon (“good”)
"more fanciful" suggestions:
- born star
- Japanese 万歳 (banzai, “long live..., huzzah, hurrah”)
- bonnie

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈbɒnzə/
Audio (AU) (file)

Adjective

bonzer (comparative more bonzer, superlative most bonzer)

(Australia, New Zealand, informal) Remarkable; wonderful; excellent; terrific.
- 1915, Young Men's Christian Associations. International Committee, For the millions of men now under arms, volume 2:
  To see their faces brighten and to hear their 'Thanks Cobber, that was bonzer!' was a joy
- 1916, C. J. Dennis, "In Spadger′s Lane", in The Moods of Ginger Mick, 2009, Sydney University Press, page 36:
  To all the earth she gives the soft glad-eye;
  She picks no fav′rits in this world o′ men;
  She peeps in nooks, where ′appy lovers sigh,
  To make their joy more bonzer still; an′ then,
  O′er Spadger′s Lane she waves a podgy ′and,
  An′ turns the scowlin′ slums to Fairyland.
- 1938, Xavier Herbert, Capricornia, New York: D. Appleton-Century, 1943, Chapter XIII, p. 220,
  You’ll make the bonzerest couple ever seen this side the Tropic.
- 1945, Doglas Stewart (editor), Coast to Coast: Australian Stories 1945‎, page 51:
  By cripes, you couldn′t have a more bonzer place for doing the thing in style with girls.
- 1991, Noel Virtue, Always the Islands of Memory‎, page 148:
  Inside sat one of the most bonzer sights she′d ever seen.
- 2006, Philippa Todd, Dangerous Dating, page 110:
  The sadness about his father left his face, and he smiled. He seemed pleased to have something positive to do. / 'That's bonzer, Annie. Thanks' he said. 'You're a good sort. And as for Ches, well, he's real bonzer too.'
- 2007, Eric Stone, The Living Room of the Dead, page 252:
  If playin' hero is so bonzer, what're you doin' in this job? Y'oughta be workin' for one o' those scandal rags, or with a crowd o' do-gooders, or for some investigation outfit or somethin'.

Translations

wonderful, excellent, terrific

German: hervorragend (de), wundervoll (de)

Noun

bonzer (plural bonzers)

(Australia, New Zealand, informal, obsolete) An excellent person or thing.
- 1904 August 28, The Truth, page 1, column 7:
  King Ned is a "bonzer".

Synonyms

(remarkable): bottler, ripper

Related terms

bontodger
bontosher, bontoshter
boshter
bosker

References

James Lambert "What Makes a Bonzer Etymology?" (3 September 2020) Green's Dictionary of Slang

Anagrams

Bronze, bronze

[1] James Lambert "What Makes a Bonzer Etymology?" (3 September 2020) Green's Dictionary of Slang