The earliest examples of the word in print was in a 1919 issue of Smith 's Weekly where it was called an `` infernal didjerry '' which `` produced but one sound - ( which sounded like ) didjerry , didjerry , didjerry and so on ad infinitum '' . It was also used the 1919 Australian National Dictionary , The Bulletin in 1924 and the writings of Herbert Basedow in 1926 . The earliest occurrences of the word in print include a 1919 issue of Smith 's Weekly where it was referred to as an `` infernal didjerry '' which `` produced but one sound - ( phonic ) didjerry , didjerry , didjerry and so on ad infinitum '' , the 1919 Australian National Dictionary , The Bulletin in 1924 and the writings of Herbert Basedow in 1926 .