Berghaan

/ˈbɜːrɡhɑːn/ noun

Definition

A large African game bird, specifically a type of guineafowl or francolin found in mountainous regions of South Africa.

Etymology

From Afrikaans 'berghaan,' combining 'berg' (mountain, from Dutch/German) and 'haan' (rooster), meaning 'mountain rooster.'

Kelly Says

The berghaan is an Afrikaans word that shows how Dutch colonial settlers named African wildlife—it's a perfect example of how language creates in unfamiliar places by combining home words with new observations!

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