kangaroo bar

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kangaroo bar (plural kangaroo bars)

1. (Australia, colloquial) A metal bar or framework of bars on the front of a vehicle to protect it during collisions with kangaroos or cattle.
   • 1969, The Autocar: A Journal Published in the Interests of the Mechanically Propelled Road Carriage, volume 130, page 38:

     The kangaroo bar is attached to the car at five points. Two bottom tubes are fixed via big plate brackets running inside the grille, the two top ones attach to the insides of the wing “walls” and a central lower one looks like a conventional car′s starting handle tube which is welded to the very strong front cross-member.

   • 1999, Tony Horwitz, One for the Road: An Outback Adventure, page 21:

     Being a Yank, it takes me a moment to realize that a kangaroo bar is the metal guard I noticed on the front of his truck.

   • 2008, Emilio Gabbrielli, Polenta and Goanna, page 154:

     I had four apples with me, and since they had to be destroyed before crossing the border I put two into the bin and ate the other two leaning on the kangaroo bar fitted to the front of the ute.

• bull bar, roo bar

• cowcatcher