Babyrussa

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A species of wild pig found in Indonesia known for its distinctive tusks and arboreal habits
2. This is an unusual type of swine native to the Indonesian islands, notable for its unique, curved tusks and tree-climbing abilities
3. A rare wild pig from Indonesia, characterized by its unusual tusks and ability to climb trees in its natural habitat

Etymology: The babirusa (also spelled "babyrussa" in older texts) gets its name from two Malay words: "babi", meaning pig, and "rusa", meaning deer. The result, "babi rusa", literally means "deer pig," a fitting description of an animal that combines a pig's body with a slender, deer-like build and legs. The name passed into French as "babiroussa," and English later borrowed it from there. The most striking thing about the animal is the male's tusks. The upper canines grow upward and curve backward, sometimes piercing the skin of the snout and even curling back toward the forehead. The name's "deer" element thus points to the animal's appearance, while the tusks give the creature one of the strangest silhouettes of any pig.