javelina
Americannoun
plural
javelinas,plural
javelinaEtymology
Origin of javelina
An Americanism dating back to 1815–25; from Latin American Spanish jabalina, from Spanish: feminine of jabalín “wild boar,” dialectal variant of jabalí, from Arabic (khinzīr) jabalī “mountain (boar)”
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Behrends, who lives nearby, said the desert hills are so quiet that some residents leave their homes unlocked, and the most excitement they see is wildlife, including rattlesnakes and wild javelina pigs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026
“They’ve both grown up with firearms, and a lot of their, like, really positive memories involve firearms,” he said, describing the family’s pursuit of elk, deer, javelina and quail for food.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 6, 2023
Also known as collared peccaries, 30 to 50 hellcatting javelina squadrons have been razing the course turf annually during their fall rush.
From Salon • Oct. 27, 2023
The crew spotted significant numbers of elk, deer, javelina and even rabbits — but no additional cattle were found following the operation.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 28, 2023
The only thing that showed up, however, was a little band of javelina hogs, and I knew better than to shoot them.
From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.