aardvark

Meaning

Noun

• The nocturnal, insectivorous, burrowing, mammal Orycteropus afer, of the order Tubulidentata, somewhat resembling a pig, common in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa.
• A silly or credulous person who is prone to mistakes or blunders.

Origin

• Borrowed from Afrikaans aardvark , erdvark, from aarde, (from Dutch, from Middle Dutch aerde) + vark, (from Middle Dutch varken). Early European colonists in South Africa noticed that the animal was similar to a pig, while "aarde" hints at the animal's habit of burrowing.