Sitatungas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A large, semi-aquatic antelope found in swampy regions of central and southern Africa that is known for its long, splayed hooves which help it navigate muddy terrain
2. A type of antelope adapted to wetland habitats with distinctive long, flexible limbs that allow for efficient movement through water and marshy grounds
3. An herbivorous mammal belonging to the Bovidae family, characterized by its unique adaptations for living in aquatic environments and often exhibiting sexual dimorphism in size and horn development

Etymology: The plural "sitatungas" is simply the plural of "sitatunga," the name for a shy, swamp-dwelling antelope of central and southern Africa with long hooves that splay out across soft mud. The singular came into English from Swahili, the Bantu language of the East African coast, where it names the animal. Because the form is a plain plural, the word's story is really the story of the singular, which was borrowed whole rather than translated or reshaped by English speakers.