PUCKEROO also PUCKAROO, PUKAROO, PUKARU (for adj. and verb only) ADJ. useless, broken, out of order; destroyed, finished ...1943 NZ sl. NOUN a young man ...1952 US sl. VERB to break, to destroy, to ruin; to kill ...1840 NZ sl. ETYMOLOGY for adj. & verb - from Maori pākaru (to break; also, broken); for noun - a variant of buckeroo (a lively young man) FIRST DOCUMENTED USE 1840 - see EXAMPLE below EXAMPLE "... I was fearful that they might burst my gun but in such a situation it was necessary to have a serviceable gun or none & I determined to fire it off. This caused a ridiculous scene the Mauries swore that we should all be Puckarooed as well as the gun and away they scuttled hiding themselves in the long flax. I took the precaution of firing my gun with a laniard and rejoice to say it did not burst. Even in our then present position the affair caused much mirth..." From: The Journal of Ensign Best - Abel Dottin William Best Edited by Nancy M. Taylor
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