Etymology Map
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Peccary

3 stages from Cariban (Kari'na) to English.

Today it means a wild, pig-like mammal native to the Americas, found from the southwestern U.S. to South America

Where does the word "peccary" come from? It comes from Cariban (Kari'na) pakira, passing through French/Spanish before entering English (1610s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
pakira
Cariban (Kari'na) · pre-1500s
"a wild pig-like mammal"
named the wild, pig-like mammal of Central and South American forests
2
Stage 2 of 3
pecari
French/Spanish · 1600s
"a small wild pig-like mammal"
adopted by French and Spanish colonists in the Caribbean and South America
3
Stage 3 of 3
peccary
English · 1610s
"a wild, pig-like mammal of the Americas"
anglicized into English natural history writing
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