murciélago

Spanish

FWOTD – 4 February 2013

Etymology

From metathetic murciégalo, from Latin mus (“mouse”) + caeculus, diminutive of caecus (“blind”). Compare Portuguese and Galician morcego. Also compare with Old Spanish mur (“mouse”).

Pronunciation

• (z-s distinction) IPA^(key): /muɾˈθje.la.ɡo/, [muɾˈθje.la.ɣo]
• (seseo merger) IPA^(key): /muɾˈsje.la.ɡo/, [muɾˈsje.la.ɣo]

Noun

murciélago m (plural murciélagos)

1. bat (winged mammal)
   • 1800, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, Historia General del Perú Chapter 12

     ...adoraban al buho por la hermosura de sus ojos y cabeza, y al murciélago por la sutileza de su vista...

     ...they adored the owl for the prettiness of its eyes and head, and the bat for the subtlety of its sight...

Synonyms

• panarra

Derived terms

• murciélago vampiro