dugong

[ doo-gong, -gawng ]

/ ˈdu gɒŋ, -gɔŋ /

noun

an herbivorous, aquatic mammal, Dugong dugon, of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, having a barrel-shaped body, flipperlike forelimbs, no hind limbs, and a triangular tail: widespread but rare.

Nearby words

dug, dugan, dugas' test, dugento, dugite, dugong, dugout, duh, duhamel, duhamel, georges, duhring's disease

Origin of dugong

1790–1800; < New Latin < German: first recorded as dugung, apparently misrepresentation of Malay duyung, or a cognate Austronesian word

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dugong

The dugong is found in large numbers in Hervey's Bay, from which the famed oil is manufactured, also the pearl oyster.
A Source Book Of Australian History|Compiled by Gwendolen H. Swinburne
The crews feel encouraged, and are at present ashore feasting on dugong, sago, and betel-nuts.
Adventures in New Guinea|James Chalmers
Unfortunately both the dugong and the manatee are being hunted to extinction.
Sea Monsters Unmasked and Sea Fables Explained|Henry Lee
This was submitted to the members of the Philosophical Society, when it proved to be the skeleton of a Dugong.
Eccentricities of the Animal Creation.|John Timbs

Another favourite article of food is the dugong (Halicore australis) of which a few are killed every year.
Voyage Of H.M.S. Rattlesnake, Vol. 2 (of 2)|John MacGillivray

British Dictionary definitions for dugong

dugong

/ (ˈduːɡɒŋ) /

noun

a whalelike sirenian mammal, Dugong dugon, occurring in shallow tropical waters from E Africa to Australia: family Dugongidae

Word Origin for dugong

C19: from Malay duyong

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

Word Origin and History for dugong

dugong

1800, from Malay duyung, which is dugung in the Philippines.