peccary
[pek-uh-ree]
- any of several piglike hoofed mammals of the genus Tayassu, of North and South America, as T. tajacu (collared peccary, or javelina), having a dark gray coat with a white collar.
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Origin of peccary
Borrowed into English from Carib around 1605–15
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for peccary
Historical Examples
It is there known as the “vaquira,” whence our word “peccary.”
The Hunters' FeastMayne Reid
But I had never yet killed a peccary; in fact, had never seen one.
The Hunters' FeastMayne Reid
Farther than to eat their fruit, the forest trees are of no use to the peccary.
The Hunters' FeastMayne Reid
The peccary, having its snout tied up, was unable to squeak.
On the Banks of the AmazonW.H.G. Kingston
On that raft was tied a bit of peccary meat, the only morsel of food he had in the world.
The Red LureRoy J. Snell
peccary
- either of two piglike artiodactyl mammals, Tayassu tajacu (collared peccary) or T. albirostris (white-lipped peccary) of forests of southern North America, Central and South America: family Tayassuidae
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Word Origin
C17: from Carib
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for peccary
n.
pig-like animal of South America, 1610s, from Carib (Guiana or Venezuela) pakira, paquira.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper