hippotamus

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English

Etymology

Syncopic form of hippopotamus.

Noun

hippotamus

  1. Obsolete spelling and common present-day misspelling of hippopotamus
    • 1868, John George Wood, The Natural History of Man, page 379:
      It is a remarkable fact that when the hippotamus is at liberty in its native stream, not only the ears and the nostrils, but even the ridge over the eyes are of a bright scarlet colour, so brilliant indeed that colour can scarcely convey an idea of the hue.