puma
UK[ˈpjuːmə]US[ˈpuːmə]
n
A large, powerful wild cat that has a greyish or reddish-brown coat and is found in mountainous regions of North and South America.
Etymology
The word 'puma' is a direct borrowing from the Quechua language of South America, where it was the indigenous name for the animal. Spanish colonizers adopted the term in the 16th century, and it subsequently entered English from Spanish. This is a classic example of a loanword where the name of a New World species was adopted along with the animal itself into European languages. The journey from Quechua to English illustrates the linguistic impact of cultural and geographical exploration.
Analysis
The word 'puma' is a simplex loanword. It is borrowed directly from Spanish, which in turn borrowed it from Quechua (an indigenous language of the Andes). In Quechua, 'puma' means this specific large feline.
Examples
The puma is also commonly known as a cougar or mountain lion.
A wildlife camera captured a puma stalking its prey in the twilight.
Conservation efforts are crucial for protecting the puma's shrinking habitat.