cannibal

[kan-uh-buhl]

noun

1. a person who eats human flesh, especially for magical or religious purposes, as among certain tribal peoples.

2. any animal that eats its own kind.

adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of a cannibal.

2. given to cannibalism.

cannibal

/ ˈkænɪbəl /

noun

1. 1. a person who eats the flesh of other human beings

   2. ( as modifier )

      cannibal tribes

2. an animal that feeds on the flesh of others of its kind

Other Word Forms

• cannibally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cannibal¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Spanish caníbal, variant of caríbal, from canib-, caribe (from Taíno; Carib ( def. ) ) + -al -al ¹; from the belief that the Caribs of the West Indies ate human flesh

Word History and Origins

Origin of cannibal¹

C16: from Spanish Canibales, name used by Columbus to designate the Caribs of Cuba and Haiti, from Arawak caniba, variant of _Carib

Related Words

• anthropophaginian www.thesaurus.com
• anthropophagite 
• anthropophagus www.thesaurus.com
• man-eater 
• people-eater www.thesaurus.com