aardvark

[ ahrd-vahrk ]
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noun
  1. 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.

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Origin of aardvark

1
First recorded in 1825–35; from Afrikaans erdvark, from Dutch aardvarken, equivalent to aarde “earth” + varken “pig”; see earth, farrow1
  • Also called ant bear .

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British Dictionary definitions for aardvark

aardvark

/ (ˈɑːdˌvɑːk) /


noun
  1. a nocturnal mammal, Orycteropus afer, the sole member of its family (Orycteropodidae) and order (Tubulidentata). It inhabits the grasslands of Africa, has long ears and snout, and feeds on termites: Also called: ant bear

Origin of aardvark

1
C19: from obsolete Afrikaans, from aarde earth + varken pig

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012