vinegarroon

[ vin-i-guh-roon ]

noun

1. a large, nonpoisonous whipscorpion, Mastigoproctus giganteus, of the southern U.S. and Mexico, which, when disturbed, emits a volatile fluid having a vinegary odor.

vinegarroon

/ ˌvɪnɪɡəˈruːn /

noun

1. a large whip scorpion, Mastigoproctus giganteus, of the southwestern US and Mexico that emits a vinegary odour when alarmed

Word History and Origins

Origin of vinegarroon¹

1850–55, Americanism; < Mexican Spanish vinagrón, equivalent to Spanish vinagr ( e ) vinegar + -ón augmentative suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of vinegarroon¹

from Mexican Spanish vinagrón, from Spanish vinagre vinegar

Example Sentences

The Giant vinegarroon lives up to its name by shooting a vinegar-smelling spray from its abdomen.

From New York Times