Bulldust

Bulldust or bull dust is a fine red aeolian dust which is especially common in the Australian Outback.[1] It is formed from dry particles which measure less than 2 microns and so form a choking cloud when disturbed.[2] It is a particular hazard when driving as it may conceal dangerous potholes or reduce visibility.[3]

Sydney Harbour Bridge in a dust storm

Colloquially, in Australian slang (and less so in South African English), the term has become a bowdlerisation equivalent to the phrase "bullshit", meaning nonsense or rubbish (i.e. false or doubtful statements), albeit with significantly less severity.[4][5]

See also

References
  1. G.H.McTainsh (1989), "Quaternary aeolian dust processes and sediments in the Australian region", Quaternary Science Reviews, 8 (3): 235–253, doi:10.1016/0277-3791(89)90039-5
  2. Country Australia: The Land and the People, Reader's Digest, 1989, p. 161, ISBN 9780864380524
  3. Vic Widman (2001), 4WD Driving Skills: A Manual for on and Off Road Travel, Landlinks Press, p. 31, ISBN 9780643066243
  4. "bulldust | Definition of bulldust in English by Oxford Dictionaries". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  5. "Bulldust dictionary definition | bulldust defined". www.yourdictionary.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.


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