babirusa
|ba-bi-ru-sa|
🇺🇸
/ˌbɑːbiˈruːsə/
🇬🇧
/ˌbæbɪˈruːsə/
pig + deer (curved upward tusks)
Etymology
'babirusa' originates from Malay and Indonesian, specifically from the words 'babi' meaning 'pig' and 'rusa' meaning 'deer'.
The term entered European natural history in the 18th–19th centuries via Malay/Indonesian usage and was adopted into scientific nomenclature as the genus name 'Babyrousa' while the common name 'babirusa' remained in English.
Originally a compound in Malay meaning 'pig-deer' (literally 'pig' + 'deer'), it evolved into the specific name for the animal in both scientific and common English usage without major change in reference.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a wild pig-like mammal of the genus Babyrousa native to Indonesian islands (notably Sulawesi), characterized by long, upward-curving canine tusks that may protrude over the snout or even through the skull.
The babirusa's unusual tusks make it one of the most distinctive mammals of Sulawesi.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/23 17:47