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Stage 1 of 3
kapiyva
Tupi · pre-1500s
"grass-eater"
literally 'grass-eater', naming the giant rodent of South American rivers
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Stage 2 of 3
capivara
Portuguese · 1600s
"the world's largest rodent"
adopted by Portuguese colonists in Brazil for the same animal
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Stage 3 of 3
capybara
English · 1770s
"the largest living rodent, native to South America"
borrowed into English natural history writing
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