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aardvark

 - 3 dictionary results

aard⋅vark

  [ahrd-vahrk]
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–noun
a large, nocturnal, burrowing mammal, Orycteropus afer, of central and southern Africa, feeding on ants and termites and having a long, extensile tongue, strong claws, and long ears.
Origin:
1825–35; < Afrik erdvark < D aardvarken, equiv. to aarde earth + varken pig; see farrow 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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aard·vark   (ärd'värk')   
n.  A burrowing mammal (Orycteropus afer) of southern Africa, having a stocky, hairy body, large ears, a long tubular snout, and powerful digging claws.

[Obsolete Afrikaans : aarde, earth (from Middle Dutch aerde; see er-2 in Indo-European roots) + vark, pig (from Middle Dutch varken; see porko- in Indo-European roots).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

aardvark 
1833, from Afrikaans Du., lit. "earth-pig" (the animal burrows), from aard "earth" (see earth) + vark "pig," cognate with O.H.G. farah (cf. Ger. Ferkel "young pig, sucking pig," a dim. form), O.E. fearh (see farrow).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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