aardvark, noun
/ˈɑːdfɑːk/
- Forms:
-
α. Show more aardvaark, aardvark, aard-varké, aard-varken;
β. erdvark, erdverk.
Also with initial capital.
- Plurals:
- aardvarke, aardvarks, or unchanged; (obsolete) aardvarken.
- Origin:
- South African Dutch, Dutch, AfrikaansShow more South African Dutch, from Dutch aarde, erd earth + vark pig. (The modern Afrikaans form is erdvark.)
The ant-eater Orycteropus afer of the Orycteropodidae, an insectivorous burrowing mammal of nocturnal habits with a long, tapering muzzle and sparsely-haired body; antbear; ant-eater sense 1; earth-hog; earth-pig. Also attributive.
α.
1786 G. Forster tr. of A. Sparrman’s Voy. to Cape of G.H. I. 270The aard-varken, or earth-pig, which, probably, is a species of manis.
1991 M. Nel in Personality 11 Mar. 26Like the Aardvark’s sense of smell for ants, Nick’s knowledge of theatre is intuitive.
β.
1796 E. Helme tr. of F. Le Vaillant’s New Trav. III. 392This ant-bear is called in the colonies erd-verken (earth hog).
1959 L.G. Green These Wonders 207That creature of obscure origin, that champion tunneller of the veld, the erdvark or ant-eater. This pig-shaped freak is not rare, but is seldom captured.
The ant-eater Orycteropus afer of the Orycteropodidae, an insectivorous burrowing mammal of nocturnal habits with a long, tapering muzzle and sparsely-haired body; antbear; ant-eater sense 1; earth-hog; earth-pig. Also attributive.
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