English
cannibal
Cannibal comes from Spanish caníbal ‘cannibalistic’, and goes back to caribe ‘Cariban, belonging to one of the Carib peoples…’.
- Spanishc. 1500–presentcaribe‘Cariban, belonging to one of the Carib peoples or relating to their cultures and languages’
- Spanish, derivedc. 1500–presentcaríbal
- Spanish, derivedc. 1500–presentcaníbal‘cannibalistic’
- Englishearliest quotation 1845cannibal
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Spanishc. 1500–presentcaribe‘Cariban, belonging to one of the Carib peoples or relating to their cultures and languages’
- Spanish, derivedc. 1500–presentcaríbal
- Spanish, derivedc. 1500–presentcaníbal‘cannibalistic’
- Englishearliest quotation 1845cannibal
Earliest quotation: 1845, Journal of Researches Into the Natural H: “These insects were not uncommon beneath stones. I found…”
Linked words
through Spanish caribe ‘Cariban, belonging to one of the Carib peoples…’
Today it means
noun An organism which eats others of its own species or kind, especially a human who consumes human flesh.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Spanish caribe / cannibal