Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun In placer and hydraulic mining, sand or gravel containing, or supposed to contain, gold enough to pay for washing. Also wash-stuff, wash-gravel.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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Every man that had a few pounds wanted a horse to ride or drive; every miner wanted a wash-dirt cart and a horse to draw it.
Robbery Under Arms 2004
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If they found the colour of gold, the least trace of it in a dish of wash-dirt, they would at once settle down themselves.
Robbery Under Arms 2004
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All being made ready, and every possible precaution taken against accident, I was let down from the top of the cliff to what looked like the dried-up course of a stream composed of pebbles and wash-dirt.
Adventures in Southern Seas A Tale of the Sixteenth Century George Forbes
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He and his two companions, working more scientifically along the creek in the scrub than the others had done on Ripple Creek, had located the extent over which gold was to be found in the wash-dirt, and had then carefully and systematically worked through it, the division of labour enabling them to get over the ground quickly and effectively.
Colonial Born A tale of the Queensland bush G. Firth Scott 1900
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Green and Pinkerton were busy at the claim, cradling the last of the wash-dirt taken out.
Tom Gerrard Louis Becke 1884
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"There's nearly five ounces in that lot, Mallet," said the captain, pointing to two buckets of wash-dirt.
John Corwell, Sailor And Miner; and, Poisonous Fish 1901 Louis Becke 1884
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Although I could detect no difference in the wash-dirt, the cradling results dwindled down by degrees to a quarter ounce per load.
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As I puddled the wash-dirt he cradled it, and consequently was in possession of the gold bag which held the proceeds from the cradle.
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Having to throw the wash-dirt eleven feet, a lot of the pebbles in it would come back on and bruise my naked body.
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If they found the colour of gold, the least trace of it in a dish of wash-dirt, they would at once settle down themselves.
Robbery under Arms; a story of life and adventure in the bush and in the Australian goldfields Rolf Boldrewood 1870
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