Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In Australia, the lesser cattail, Typha angustifolia. See Typha and raupo.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun slang, UK, New Zealand money.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the Romany word wangar (coal); "coal" was also used as a slang term for money in England in the 18th and 19th century.

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Examples

  • Balls & Balls: A happy, upwardly-mobile couple, with much to be happily upwardly-mobile about, thanks to lots of wonga from the Taxpayer

    Balls: If You Are Middle-Class, Go To The Back Of The Queue! 2008

  • Balls & Balls: A happy, upwardly-mobile couple, with much to be happily upwardly-mobile about, thanks to lots of wonga from the Taxpayer

    Archive 2008-06-29 2008

  • Today, questions remain as to where the 'wonga' for the bribes to secure his liberty and fund that private jet came from.

    Home | Mail Online 2009

  • Father Dougal: Sure it is, and I bet all the doctors are chuffed that they'll get all that wonga to do what the feck they like with.

    Society daily: 14.07.10 2010

  • The Americans have claimed there is also an offer pending from Syrian businessman Yahya Kirdi, but that is being widely dismissed as an attempt to wrangle a little more wonga from Huang and, like a chocolate fork, is unlikely to cut much ice.

    Want One 2010

  • They earn a twentieth of his wonga from mayoral and writing duties, but times are tight.

    Diary Hugh Muir 2010

  • Thatcher wrought concessions from Brussels – not by threatening a referendum but by credibly threatening to remove the two things it values: power and wonga.

    There is only one question that frightens Brussels 2009

  • I'll send some wonga - so go on, get out yer cheque book!

    Archive 2009-02-01 2009

  • I am aware of the saying "put your money where your mouth is" and so I have bunged in some wonga for this.

    Cycle ride for Good Counsel Network 2009

  • Thatcher wrought concessions from Brussels – not by threatening a referendum but by credibly threatening to remove the two things it values: power and wonga.

    Gordon Brown, Charlie Whelan and Me 2009

Comments

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  • "Money: this is the true Blarney Stone of Dublin — kiss it and you'll talk all night. The city is awash with wonga."

    Psychogeography by Will Self, 104

    October 16, 2010