Etymograph

English

emu

Emu may come from Portuguese ema ‘(originally) cassowary’.

  1. Portuguesec. 1500–presentema‘(originally) cassowary’uncertain
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1656emu

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Portuguesec. 1500–presentema‘(originally) cassowary’uncertain
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1656emu

Earliest quotation: 1656, John Tradescant the elder, Some Kindes of Birds Their Egges, Beaks, Feathers, Clawes, a: “[page 1] 1. EGGES. Caſſawary, or Emeu, vide Aldrov:…”

Every English word from Portuguese ema

Today it means

noun A large flightless bird native to Australia, Dromaius novaehollandiae.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Portuguese ema / emu

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