babiroussa, -russa Zool.
(bɑːbɪˈruːsə)
Forms: 7 barbirousa, 8–9 babyroussa, -rouessa, babiroussa, 9 babirusa, -russa.
[f. Malay bâbi hog + rûsa deer; also in Fr. and mod.L.]
A species of wild hog (Babirussa alfurus) found in the islands of Eastern Asia, the upper canine teeth of which, in the male, pierce the lip and grow upwards and backwards like horns; also called Hog-deer, Indian hog, Horned hog.
| 1696 W. Mountague Delights Holland 85 Barbirousa is half Hart, half Hog. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. II. 112 The babyrouessa is still more remote from the hog kind than the capibara. 1883 Athenæum 1 Dec. 706/3 A male and two female babirussas..from Celebes. 1883 Illust. Lond. News 8 Sept. 243/2 We present a few sketches of the Babiroussa..recently presented to the Society. |