Where does “aardvark” come from?
aardvark (English) comes from Afrikaans aardvark, from Afrikaans vark, from Dutch varken, from Middle Dutch varken, from Proto-Germanic farhaz, from Proto-Indo-European pórḱos, from Proto-Indo-European perḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European per- — passed , crossed.
aardvark (English): The nocturnal, insectivorous, burrowing, mammal...
Definitions
- The nocturnal, insectivorous, burrowing, mammal...
Ancestry of “aardvark”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Afrikaans | aardvark | Obsolete form of erdvark; aardvark |
| 2 | Afrikaans | vark | pig |
| 3 | Dutch | varken | A pig, Sus scrofa domesticus; A swine, a dirty,... |
| 4 | Middle Dutch | varken | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | farhaz | pig, piglet |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pórḱos | piglet |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | perḱ- | colored; motley; to open, rip up |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |