roo bar

English

A police vehicle fitted with a roo bar

Alternative forms

• 'roo bar

Etymology

Clipping of kangaroo bar

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

roo bar (plural roo bars)

1. (Australia, colloquial) A metal bar or framework of metal bars on the front of a vehicle to protect it during collisions with kangaroos or cattle.
   • 2003, Nicholas Rothwell, “Aboriginal Portraits”, in Peter Craven, editor, The Best Australian Essays 2003, page 93:

     Mr Giles has even, rather whimsically, helped design his preferred vehicle: roo bar for those late-night mercy dashes, roof rack for swags, red hand-print (‘my hand’) instead of red cross on the side.

   • 2006, Terri Morrison, Wayne A. Conaway, Kiss, Bow, Or Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More Than 60 Countries, 2nd edition, page 21:

     lf you drive in the outback, be sure to bring plenty of water, your cell phone, and other safety supplies (have a roo-bar on the front of the car).

   • 2010, Nikki Logan, The Soldier′s Untamed Heart, unnumbered page:

     Her arm looped around the roo bar and she pulled herself into a more upright position, ignoring the sharp stab in her leg.

   • 2010, Ralph Alcock, Hidden Identity, page 32:

     “Keeps those bloody roos from wrecking the bus,” he explained. Leather water bags, wet and shiny, dangled from the roo bars like a series of sad, drooping eyes.

Synonyms

• (protective bar on a vehicle): bull bar, kangaroo bar, cowcatcher (trains)