E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Bushrangers.
Escaped convicts who have taken refuge in the Australian “bush,” and subsist by plunder.
1
“The bushrangers at first were absentees [i.e. escaped convicts] who were soon allured or driven to theft and violence. So early as 1808 they had, by systematic robbery, excited feelings of alarm.”—West: Tasmania.
