aardvark

• aard-vark, erdvark

Borrowed from Afrikaans aardvark (obsolete), erdvark, from aarde (“earth”), (from Dutch, from Middle Dutch aerde) + vark (“pig”), (from Middle Dutch varken). Early European colonists in South Africa noticed that the animal was similar to a pig, while "aarde" hints at the animal's habit of burrowing.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɑːd.vɑːk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɑɹd.vɑɹk/

• Audio (US)

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aardvark (plural aardvarks)

1. The nocturnal, insectivorous, burrowing, mammal Orycteropus afer, of the order Tubulidentata, somewhat resembling a pig, common in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa. [First attested in the late 18^th c.]

   The aardvark burrows in the ground and feeds mostly on termites, which it catches with its long, slimy tongue.

2. (slang, particularly in the southeast US) A silly or credulous person who is prone to mistakes or blunders.

   I walked into the wrong bathroom like a total aardvark.

• (mammal): African anteater, antbear, ant bear or ant-bear, anteater, earth pig
• (silly person): fool

• Aard-vark in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)

From Dutch aardvarken, from aarde (“earth, soil”) +‎ varken (“pig”).

aardvark (plural aardvarke)

1. Obsolete form of erdvark.

aardvark m (plural aardvarks)

1. aardvark (mammal)

• oricterope, porco-da-terra, jimbo, porco-formigueiro, timba, timbo