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Story: Rural language

Prime lamb

Video file

As this 1950 film shows, the expression ‘prime lamb’ began to be used even before health issues made its alternative, ‘fat lamb’, unacceptable. Both mean lamb in prime condition, ready for slaughter.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Canterbury is a hundred. National Film Unit, 1950

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Dianne Bardsley, Rural language – Economics and marketing, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/18628/prime-lamb (accessed 14 June 2026).

Story by Dianne Bardsley, published 1 March 2009.