Word Study
bandicoot
CIDE DICTIONARY
bandicoot, n. [A corruption of the native name.].
A species of very large rat (Mus giganteus ), found in India and Ceylon. It does much injury to rice fields and gardens. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
bandicoot, n.
1 any of the insect- and plant-eating marsupials of the family Peramelidae.
2 (in full bandicoot rat) Ind. a destructive rat, Bandicota benegalensis.
1 any of the insect- and plant-eating marsupials of the family Peramelidae.
2 (in full bandicoot rat) Ind. a destructive rat, Bandicota benegalensis.
Etymology
Telugu pandikokku pig-rat
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