查看原文
其他

松鼠为啥叫squirrel?(动物词源小知识)



有些动物名称的来源十分有趣。有的动物是因长相而得名,如犀牛(rhinoceros),有的因叫声得名,如杜鹃(cuckoo,又叫布谷鸟)。今天就为大家分享几个有趣的动物名称词源知识。
1. anemone is from a Greek word meaning “windflower” (from the belief that the flower opens when it is windy).anemone(海葵)源自希腊语中表示“风花”的词(人们以为这种花在刮风时开放)。
2. badger is perhaps from “badge”, because of the markings on a badger’s head. The word dates from the 16th century; the earlier Old English word for a badger was “brock”.badger(獾)可能源自 badge(标记)一词,因为獾的头上有黑白相间的条纹。badger 最早可追溯到16世纪;在那之前,獾在古英语中称为 brock。
3. basilisk is from Greek basilikos which originally meant “little king” and is related to our words “basil” and “basilica”.basilisk(冠蜥)源自希腊语 basilikos 一词,最初指“小国王”,也与英语中的 basil(罗勒) 和 basilica(会堂)有联系。
basilisk lizard 双嵴(jí)冠蜥Basilisk lizards can run on the surface of water. 双嵴冠蜥能在水面上飞奔。
4. budgerigar is from Australian Aboriginal budgeri meaning “good” and gar meaning “cockatoo”.budgerigar(虎皮鹦鹉)由澳大利亚土著语的 budgeri(好的)和 gar(凤头鹦鹉)组合而成。 5. caterpillar is from Old French chatepelose meaning “hairy cat” .caterpillar(毛虫)源自古法语的 chatepelose(毛茸茸的猫)。 6. flamingo is from a Spanish word flamengo, and is connected to the Latin flamma meaning “a flame” because of its colour.flamingo(红鹳)源自西班牙语的 flamengo,与拉丁语的 flamma(火焰)有关,这是因为它们火红的颜色。
flamingo 红鹳

7. halibut is from “holy” and butt, a dialect word meaning “flatfish” (because it was eaten on Christian holy days, when meat was forbidden).halibut(大比目鱼)由 holy(神圣)和 butt(“比目鱼”的方言说法)组合而成(因为过去在基督教节日时不允许吃肉,人们常吃这种鱼)。
halibut 大比目鱼

8. rhinoceros is from Greek rhinos meaning “of the nose” and keras meaning “horn”.rhinoceros(犀牛)由希腊语的 rhinos(鼻子的)和 keras(角)组合而成。 9. porpoise is from the Latin words porcus meaning “pig” and piscis meaning “python” which is from Python, the name of a huge serpent killed by Apollo in Greek legend.porpoise(鼠海豚)由拉丁语的 porcus(猪)和 piscis(蟒)组合而成,而 piscis 又源自 Python(皮同),是希腊神话中被太阳神阿波罗杀死的巨蟒。
porpoise 鼠海豚Whales, dolphins and porpoises breathe through a blowhole. 鲸、海豚和鼠海豚通过呼吸孔呼吸。
10. squirrel is from Greek skiouros which is from skia meaning “shadow” and oura meaning “tail” (because its long bushy tail cast a shadow over its body and kept it cool).squirrel(松鼠)源自希腊语的 skiouros,由 skia(影子)和 oura(尾巴)组合而成(因为松鼠蓬松的长尾巴能遮阳,帮身体降温)。
red squirrel 赤松鼠


以上内容选自《牛津少儿英汉动物百科》。
《牛津少儿英汉动物百科》畅销英国、德国、意大利等欧洲多国
  • 英文地道,译文准确,介绍400余种动物名称和相关知识;
  • 精美图片,栩栩如生,展现多彩的动物世界;
  • 生字注音,英汉索引,方便读者从两种语言入手查询;
  • 扫描二维码收听录音,还可配合点读笔使用。

长按识别二维码购买☟
延伸阅读
kit, pup, joey, calf...动物宝宝怎么说?
下雨天,在家陪孩子读牛津少儿英语吧
一份来自南极的问候,请查收!
儿童节,来自大洋彼岸的问候!书讯 | 《牛津少儿英汉图解词典》
给孩子的6种英语读物
儿童节书单 | 给孩子的10种好书词典,最好的英语老师:16种“牛津系列”英语词典


商务印书馆英语编辑室

微信号:CP-English



点击“阅读原文”选购图书

长按识别二维码关注

您可能也对以下帖子感兴趣

文章有问题?点此查看未经处理的缓存