CANNIBAL

cannibal, man-eater, anthropophagus, anthropophagite

(noun) a person who eats human flesh

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

cannibal (plural cannibals)

An organism which eats others of its own species or kind, especially a human who eats human flesh.

Synonyms

• man-eater

• anthropophagus

Source: Wiktionary


Can"ni*bal, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cannibale. Columbus, in a letter to the Spanish monarchs written in Oct., 1498, mentions that the people of Hayti lived in great fear of the Caribales (equivalent to E. Caribbees.), the inhabitants of the smaller Antilles; which form of the name was afterward changed into NL. Canibales, in order to express more forcibly their character by a word intelligible through a Latin root "propter rabiem caninam anthropophagorum gentis." The Caribbees call themselves, in their own language. Calinago, Carinago, Calliponam, and, abbreviated, Calina, signifying a brave, from which Columbus formed his Caribales.]

Definition: A human being that eats human flesh; hence, any that devours its own kind. Darwin.

Can"ni*bal, a.

Definition: Relating to cannibals or cannibalism. "Cannibal terror." Burke.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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