babirusa
Babirusa (noun) means a wild pig of the genus Babyrousa, notable for the male's upper tusks, which curve upward through the snout. Example: “The babirusa is easy to spot in a zoo because of the strange curved tusks on the males.”
How to use babirusa
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA babirusa is a wild pig whose males grow strange, upward-curving tusks that make it look part deer.
It is a specific animal name used mainly in zoology and wildlife writing.
The name literally means 'pig-deer' in Malay, which is the easiest way to remember what it looks like.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ is easy to spot in a zoo because of the strange curved tusks on the males.
Etymology
The name comes from Malay, combining the words for pig and deer, because the animal's upward-curving tusks look a little like antlers. This Malay term was later adapted into scientific Latin as the species name.
