mammiferous

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Latin mammalbor.

English mamma

Latin -i-bor.

English -i-

Proto-Indo-European *bʰer-

Proto-Indo-European *-eti

Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti

Proto-Italic *ferō

Latin ferō

Proto-Indo-European *h₃ed-

Proto-Indo-European *-os

Proto-Indo-European *h₃édosder.?

Proto-Italic *-ŏ̄dsos?

Old Latin -ōssus

Latin -ōsus

Old French -usbor.

Middle English -ous

English -ous

English -ferous

English mammiferous

From mamma + -i- + -ferous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mæˈmɪfəɹəs/
• Rhymes: -ɪfəɹəs

Adjective

mammiferous (comparative more mammiferous, superlative most mammiferous)

1. Mammalian.

   Synonyms: mammalian, mammallike; see also Thesaurus:mammallike

   • 1837, Michael Ryan, The Philosophy of Marriage, in Its Social, Moral, and Physical Relations; with an Account of the Diseases of the Genito-urinary Organs which Impair or Destroy the Reproductive Function; and Induce a Variety of Complaints; with the Physiology of Generation in the Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms [...], London: John Churchill, Princes' Street, Soho, →OCLC, page 191:

     The moment of ejaculation in mammiferous animals is accompanied by universal excitement of the whole body, a kind of slight convulsion, which terminates in a comatose or exstatic state.

2. (anatomy) Having mammae, or (humorous) breasts.

   Synonyms: boobied (childish), breasted

   • 1973, Kyril Bonfiglioli, Don't Point That Thing at Me, Penguin, published 2001, page 53:

     The mammiferous secretary slithered in, changed the spool and slithered out again, giving me a small, hygienic smile en route.