heathcropper

From heath +‎ cropper.

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

heathcropper (plural heathcroppers)

1. (slang, archaic) A farm animal, particularly a wild pony, kept to graze on the heath, particularly associated with Wessex.
   • 1916, Thomas Hardy, Domicilium:

     Would fly about our bedrooms. Heathcroppers / Lived on the hills, and were our only friends: /