Guatuso

/ɡwɑːˈtuːsoʊ/ noun

Definition

A small nocturnal rodent native to Central America, or an indigenous people of Costa Rica and their language.

Etymology

From indigenous Central American languages, the term refers both to a specific animal species and to the Guatuso (or Boruca) people of Costa Rica.

Kelly Says

The Guatuso people named the nocturnal rodent after themselves, or vice versa—the linguistic connection shows how indigenous peoples categorized their local wildlife!

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