babirussa
|ba-bi-ru-sa|
/ˌbæbɪˈruːsə/
(babirusa)
pig + deer (curved upward tusks)
Etymology
'babirusa' originates from Malay/Indonesian, specifically the words 'babi' and 'rusa', where 'babi' meant 'pig' and 'rusa' meant 'deer'.
'babirusa' was borrowed into scientific Latin/Dutch as the genus name 'Babyrousa' and then into English usage; both spellings ('babirusa' and 'babirussa' or the Latinized 'Babyrousa') have been used, with 'babirusa' common for the vernacular name.
Initially it literally meant 'pig-deer' (a compound describing its appearance); over time the compound came to denote this specific animal species without a change of core meaning.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a wild pig-like mammal of the genus Babyrousa native to several Indonesian islands (notably Sulawesi), characterized by long, upward-curving canine tusks and a relatively hairless body.
The babirussa is native to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and is known for its long, upward-curving tusks.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/23 18:16