What does boodie mean?
The boodie, or burrowing bettong (Bettongia lesueur), is a small, rabbit-sized marsupial native to Australia and closely related to kangaroos. Unlike its larger relatives, the boodie lives largely underground, digging elaborate warren systems that provide shelter not only for itself but for many other species during fires and extremes of weather. Once abundant across much of the Australian mainland, the species was driven nearly to extinction by introduced predators such as cats and foxes, surviving only on a few offshore islands that remained free of these animals. Today the boodie is a flagship species for Australian conservation: captive breeding and reintroduction programs are working to restore it to fenced mainland sanctuaries and predator-free areas. The name comes from an Aboriginal language of Western Australia, reflecting the animal's deep place in the region's ecology.
nounA small, burrowing kangaroo-like marsupial (Bettongia lesueur) native to Australia, also known as the burrowing bettong; it was once widespread across the Australian mainland but now survives mainly on offshore islands.
- The burrowing bettong (Bettongia lesueur), a rabbit-sized marsupial of the family Potoroidae that digs extensive warrens.
"On Barrow Island, boodies emerge at dusk to dig for roots and tubers."
"Conservationists have been reintroducing boodies to fenced sanctuaries on the mainland."
"A boodie's underground warren can shelter dozens of other animals when bushfires sweep through."
Standard pluralization; used in conservation literature when referring to multiple individuals or populations.
"Boodies were once so numerous on the Nullarbor that their diggings reshaped the soil."
The boodie once hopped across most of mainland Australia — then feral cats and foxes wiped it out everywhere except a handful of predator-free islands.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of boodie
"Boodie" is borrowed from an Aboriginal language of Western Australia, commonly cited as Nyungar, where similar forms refer to this small wallaby-like animal. European settlers adopted the local name in the nineteenth century as they catalogued Australia's distinctive fauna. It belongs to the same broad group of borrowed Aboriginal names as words such as "kangaroo" and "quokka," which entered English through early contact along Australian coasts.
How boodie is actually used
"Boodie" is used chiefly in Australia and in scientific and conservation contexts; elsewhere the term "burrowing bettong" is more common. The word derives from an Aboriginal language of Western Australia.
Easily confused with boodie
A budgie (budgerigar) is a small Australian parrot kept as a pet, whereas a boodie is a burrowing marsupial related to kangaroos.