English
abada
Abada comes from Portuguese abada ‘female rhinoceros’, and goes back to Malay badak.
- Malaymodernbadak‘rhinoceros’
- Portuguesec. 1500–presentabada‘female rhinoceros’
- Englishearliest quotation 1864same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Malaymodernbadak‘rhinoceros’
- Portuguesec. 1500–presentabada‘female rhinoceros’
- Englishearliest quotation 1864same form
Earliest quotation: 1864, William Winwood Reade, Savage Africa: “It is certain that the unicorn is not to…”
Every English word from Malay badak
Today it means
noun The rhinoceros.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Malay badak / abada