Babiroussa

/ˌbæbɪˈruːsə/ noun

Definition

An alternate spelling of babirousa; an Indonesian hoofed mammal with unusual upward-curving tusks.

Etymology

Variant spelling of babirousa, from Malay babi (pig) plus rusa (deer). Different historical transliterations of Malay into English produced multiple acceptable spellings.

Kelly Says

The multiple spellings (babirousa, babiroussa, babirussa) reflect how words borrowed from Southeast Asian languages went through different transliteration systems as English spelling conventions evolved.

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