n. A burrowing mammal (Orycteropus afer) of sub-Saharan Africa, having a stocky body, large ears, a long tubular snout, and powerful digging claws for feeding on ants and termites. [Obsolete Afrikaans : aarde, earth (from Middle Dutch aerde; see er-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) + vark, pig (from Middle Dutch varken; see porko- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] |
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