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INDRI (n. pl. -S)
Definition(s):
- (n.) a large, short-tailed lemur of Madagascar
Useful info for word game players:
- Front hooks: (none)
- Back hooks: -S
- Anagrams: (none)
- Longer extensions: (none)
- Wraparounds: CYLindriC, SPindriFT, SPindriFTS, CYLindriCAL, CYLindriCALLY, SEMICYLindriCAL
- Other Spellings: (none)
- Related Forms: (none)
Epilogue:
The INDRI, like most lemurs, is native to Madagascar and is ARBOREAL, meaning that it spends most of its time in trees.
This word is one of my favorites because of its unusual and amusing etymology — or at least one theory of its etymology. The story goes that while working in Madagascar in the late 18th century, the French naturalist Pierre Sonnerat heard his native guides say “indry! indry!” when spotting one of the creatures in the trees. Sonnerat therefore assumed that was the native name for the animal and recorded it dutifully. In actuality, the Malagasy word indry simply means “look” or “behold.” The natives were just saying “look! look!” Probably as in “look, look, there goes a babakoto”, for babakoto (or babacoote) is the common native name for the indri.
A few sources dispute this fanciful story, suggesting that the word may instead be a corruption of endrina, a word that the natives of Madagascar apparently did once use for a type of lemur. There is no proof of the connection between endrina and indri, however, and the mistaken translation theory of this word’s etymology remains in most modern dictionaries.
Recapping this week’s featured words:
TALAPOIN, RHESUS, HANUMAN, and INDRI
Also mentioned:
ARBOREAL, CAPUCHIN, CAPPUCCINO, CESTUS, ENTELLUS, LANGUR, LEMUR, MACACO, and MACAQUE
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