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。