peccary

American  

[pek-uh-ree] / ˈpɛk ə ri /

noun

PLURAL

peccaries,

PLURAL

peccary

1. any of several medium-sized, bristly, piglike mammals of North and South America, comprising three genera of the family Tayassuidae New World pigs, all of which possess a scent gland on the rear of the back.

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peccary British  

/ ˈpɛkərɪ /

noun

1. either of two piglike artiodactyl mammals, Tayassu tajacu ( collared peccary ) or T. albirostris ( white-lipped peccary ) of forests of southern North America, Central and South America: family Tayassuidae

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Etymology

Origin of peccary

Borrowed into English around 1605–15 from a Carib language, e.g., Apalai pakira, paquira, or Chayma paquera

Example Sentences

“My uncle took me to a ranger station where there were wild chickens and peccaries up close to me,” he recalled.

From National Geographic

The hogs are considered an invasive species, much larger than their south Texas cousin the peccary, or javelina.

From Los Angeles Times

In Costa Rica, a new ecotourism initiative to help conserve the once-common white-lipped peccary — similar to a wild boar — has seen few visitors.

From Washington Post

In addition to people, the peccaries are hunted by wild jaguars and puma, who will also die off if they lack for protein, Mr. García-Anleu said.

From New York Times

On a leisurely horse ride, I spied collared peccaries and later stopped outside the vast pampas deer reserve and watched through binoculars as a male scratched his impressive antlers against a tree.

From The Guardian

Related Words

• hog
• pig