aardvarkとは 意味・読み方・使い方

別の表記

• aard-vark, erdvark

語源

Borrowed from Afrikaans aardvark (obsolete), erdvark, from aarde (“earth”, from Middle Dutch aerde) +‎ vark (“pig”, from Middle Dutch varken). Early European colonists in South Africa noticed that the animal was similar to a pig, while aarde hints at the animal's habit of burrowing.

発音

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˈɑːd.vɑːk/
• (米国発音) IPA: /ˈɑɹd.vɑɹk/

名詞

aardvark (plural aardvarks)

1. The nocturnal, insectivorous, burrowing, mammal Orycteropus afer, of the order Tubulidentata, somewhat resembling a pig, common in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa. [from late 18 c.]

   Synonyms: African anteater, antbear, ant bear, anteater, earth pig

   The aardvark burrows in the ground and feeds mostly on termites, which it catches with its long, slimy tongue.

   • 2007 August 15, Wayne A. Davis, “Replies to Green, Szabó, Jeshion, and Siebel”, in Philosophical Studies, volume 137, number 3, →DOI:

     If ‘aardvark lover’ has that syntactic structure, then it determinately means “lover of aardvarks.

派生語

参照

• Aard-vark in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)
• Jonathan E. Lighter, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume I, A-G. Random House USA, 1994. →ISBN. page 1.