javelina

English

The javelina

Alternative forms

• jabalina, javeli

Etymology

From Spanish javalina, jabalina, feminine form of jabalí (“wild boar”), from Andalusian Arabic جَبَلِي (jabalī) (in خِنْزِير جَبَلِيّ (ḵinzīr jabaliyy, “mountain pig”)), from Arabic جَبَل (jabal, “mountain”). Cognate with Portuguese javalina, and similar in other Iberian languages.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /havəˈliːnə/

Noun

javelina (plural javelinas)

1. (Canada, US) The peccary, especially the collared peccary. [from 19th c.]
   • 1831, Benjamin Lundy, editor, The Genius of Universal Emancipation‎^[1], page 117:

     The Javelina (Peccari) is an animal peculiar so far as I know to Spanish America.

   • 1903 February, O. Henry [pseudonym; William Sydney Porter], “Hygeia at the Solito”, in Everybody’s Magazine, volume VIII, number 2, New York, N.Y.: John Wanamaker, →ISSN, page 174, column 2:

     Some well-mounted heads of deer and one of an enormous black javeli projected from the walls.

   • 2013, Philipp Meyer, The Son, Simon & Schuster, published 2014, page 264:

     We […] were ready to send some prickly pears to the next world when the most unfortunate group of javelina on earth walked into view.

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from French javeline.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central) [ʒə.βəˈli.nə]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [ʒə.vəˈli.nə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencian) [d͡ʒa.veˈli.na]

Noun

javelina f (plural javelines)

1. javelin

Further reading

• “javelina” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.