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witchetty

witchetty

1 9.9
A large edible insect native to Australia that Indigenous Australians eat
  • noun
  • Australian
: witchetty
  • The traditional diet of Indigenous Australians includes the witchetty grub, which is a significant source of nutrition.
  • witchetty grub

Examples

  • The traditional diet was remarkably diverse and included fish, figs, yams, kangaroo, and a delicacy known as the witchetty grub.

    Academic text (2004)
  • During the bush tucker tour, we tasted witchetty grubs, which were surprisingly rich in flavor.

  • A witchetty grub.

  • - Witchetty grub.

  • At special times, we might put on some Aboriginal meat, witchetty grubs, and crocodile meat, and all sorts of stuff.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The fat composition of the witchetty grub, for example, resembles olive oil, a predominantly monounsaturated fat characteristic of the Mediterranean region and considered "heart healthy."

    Academic text (2004)
  • Many Indigenous communities have relied on the witchetty grub as a staple food for centuries.

Surface Forms

witchetty singular
witchetties plural

Etymology

Witchetty comes from an Australian Aboriginal language where it was the local name for a large, edible 'grub' found in the outback. So witchetty in English means that traditional 'grub' people ate as food.