Meaning
In Australian English, an Esky is a portable insulated container used to keep food and drinks cold; the word comes from a proprietary name that became widely used in everyday Australian speech.
How it is used
The Australian National Dictionary Centre describes esky as a portable insulated container and notes that the word comes from a proprietary name. Cambridge labels Esky an Australian English trademark for a cool box or cooler.
Examples
- “Put the drinks in the Esky before we leave.”
- “We packed an Esky for the beach.”
- “There’s still ice in the Esky.”
Pronunciation
/ˈes.kiː/ · ESS-kee
Tone and register
Neutral and familiar in Australian conversation, especially around picnics, beaches, camping, barbecues, and travel.
Visitor guidance
Visitors should understand that Esky has a trademark history even though Australians may use the word generically in ordinary speech. In formal commercial or legal contexts, cooler or insulated container may be more precise.
Cultural context
Esky is a useful example of a brand name becoming embedded in regional everyday vocabulary. The Australian National Dictionary Centre records the object as a familiar feature of barbecues, beaches, parks, camping, and summer travel.
Origin
The Australian National Dictionary Centre records esky from the 1950s and traces it to a proprietary name for a portable insulated container, earlier associated with the name Eskimo.
Places represented
Open the reviewed place guide for each regional sense carried by this canonical entry.
Comparisons featuring this term
Open reviewed place comparisons that explicitly use this canonical term in their editorial comparison set.