peccary
UK[ˈpekəri]US[ˈpekəri]
n
a gregarious piglike mammal with a scent gland under the tail, native to tropical america.
Etymology
the word 'peccary' entered the english language in the 17th century, borrowed from the spanish 'pecarí', which itself was adopted from the portuguese 'pecari'. these european forms trace back to the tupi language of brazil, where 'pakira' or 'paquira' named the animal. as a loanword from an indigenous american language, it represents a classic example of new world fauna requiring a new name, with its form remaining largely intact through transmission via colonial languages into the global lexicon.
Analysis
this word is a loanword from a carib language, adopted into english via spanish and portuguese. it is not meaningfully segmentable into smaller morphemes within english.
Examples
the collared peccary is often found in desert scrub and saguaro cactus habitats.
unlike true pigs, a peccary has a complex stomach for digesting tough plant material.
we caught a glimpse of a herd of peccaries foraging in the rainforest undergrowth.