About
Ricky Sullivan Himself
Ricky is a senior developer, dad of three, and a proud drongo. This is where he writes down the things worth keeping.
What gets published here
Senior developer at Gallagher Security by day, curious web tinkerer by night.
Dad
Dad to three boys, which means my debugging skills extend well beyond code.
Drongo
drongo | ˈdrɒŋɡəʊ | noun
- A songbird with glossy black plumage and typically a long forked tail and a crest, found in Africa, southern Asia, and Australia.
- Australian / New Zealand informal. A stupid or incompetent person.
Origin
As well as being the name of a bird found in north-eastern Australia, Drongo was the name of a racehorse foaled in 1921. It usually performed poorly, although it was placed a number of times, and retired in 1925. Thereafter, anyone slow-witted or clumsy was referred to as a drongo.
The horse was lampooned by cartoonist Sam Wells in drawings depicting “Drongo Mk. 1” in the Melbourne Herald during the early 1920s. The word became nationally used as a reference to no-hopersduring World War II.
Drongo wasn’t such a drongo
But of course the legend grew
And legends are stronger than truth
So everyone believes now
That Drongo was an old camel
Who always ran last.But some of us remember a colt
Running second in a Derby;
He didn’t look so clumsy
Just for that second…Sure he never won a race,
Neither did I, mate;
Most of us never win races
And so they call us drongoes.
Wannan, Bill (1979) [1970]. Australian Folklore. Lansdowne Press, p. 200.
“Drongo” went from a racehorse that never won to Aussie slang for a loser — yet its story proves that coming second still beats never running at all.
Read the newspaper clipping: Career of Drongo
Get in touch
Questions, corrections, and requests are welcome through the contact page.
You can also email [email protected] directly.