marsupial etymology

Etymology:

  • Latin: marsupium ("pouch")
  • Greek: μάρσιππος (marsippos, "pouch")

Meaning:

A marsupial is a mammal that gives birth to live young that are underdeveloped and are carried in a pouch on the mother's body.

Origin:

The term "marsupial" was first used in the 18th century by French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, to describe the extinct giant kangaroo Diprotodon. Buffon derived the term from the Latin word "marsupium," which means "pouch."

The idea of a pouch-carrying mammal was already known to European explorers and traders in the 17th century, who observed kangaroos and other marsupials in Australia. However, it was not until Buffon's work that the term "marsupial" was formally defined and became widely accepted.

marsupial relate terms

  • kangaroo

    Etymology The word kangaroo originates from the Guugu Yimithirr language of the Aborig

  • mammal

    Etymology The word mammal is derived from the Latin word mamma which means breast

  • folly

    Etymology The word folly is derived from the Old French word folie which itself is d

  • decide

    Etymology Decide derived from the Latin verb decidere which means to cut off to

  • need

    Etymology The word etymology is derived from the Greek words étymon meaning true m

  • chimera

    Etymology Ancient Greek χίμαιρα chímaira from χίμαρος chímaros m

  • cardinal

    Etymology The word cardinal comes from the Latin word cardinalis meaning chief or

  • dedication

    Etymology The word dedication comes from the Latin word dedicatio which means a set

  • exorcism

    Etymology The word exorcism comes from the Greek word exorkizomai which means to a

  • money

    Etymology The word money comes from the Latin word moneta which was the name of the