Furphy

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Furphy hitched to an Australian Draught Horse.
A Furphy farm water cart.
Back plate of a Furphy farm water cart.
A furphy, also commonly spelled furfie[citation needed], is Australian slang for a rumour, or an erroneous or improbable story. The word is derived from water carts designed and made by a company established by John Furphy: J. Furphy & Sons of Shepparton, Victoria. The steel and cast iron tanks were first made in the 1880s and were used on farms and by stock agents.[1] Many Furphy water carts were used to take water to Australian Army personnel during World War I in Australia, Europe and the Middle East.[1] The carts, with "J. Furphy & Sons" written on their tanks, became popular as gathering places where soldiers could exchange gossip, rumours and fanciful tales—much like today's water cooler discussion.

Another suggested explanation is that the rumbling of an approaching water cart sounded like the firing of artillery, thus causing a false alarm. It is also used to refer to a foolish mistake, although the etymology of that is uncertain.

It is possible that the word was also influenced by John Furphy's equally prominent brother, the popular 19th-century Australian author, Joseph Furphy (1843–1913). However, Joseph was generally published under the pseudonym "Tom Collins".

Scuttlebutt has a similar etymology, a scuttlebutt originally being a cask of drinking water on a ship.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 [[http://www.smh.com.au/national/by/Saffron-Howden|Howden, Saffron]] (2012-07-26). "Water under bridge for farm family as a Furphy is revived". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2012-07-26. 

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