Kangaroo word Kangaroo word A kangaroo word is a word that contains letters of another word, in order, with the same meaning. For example: the word "masculine" contains the word "male", which is a synonym of the first word; similarly, the word "observe" contains its synonym "see". The etymology of the phrase "kangaroo word" is from the fact that kangaroos carry their young (known as joeys) in a body pouch. Likewise, "kangaroo words" carry their "joey words" within themselves. "Twin kangaroos" are kangaroo words containing two joey words (for example: "container" features both "tin" and "can"). In contrast, an "anti-kangaroo" word is
Kangaroo "Kangaroo", meaning "I don't understand you", which Cook took to be the name of the creature. This myth was debunked in the 1970s by linguist John B. Haviland in his research with the Guugu Yimithirr people. Kangaroos are often colloquially referred to as "roos". Male kangaroos are called bucks, boomers, jacks, or old men; females are does, flyers, or jills; and the young ones are joeys. The collective noun for kangaroos is a mob, troop, or court. There are four species that are commonly referred to as kangaroos: In addition, there are about 50 smaller macropods closely related to the