white rhinoceros
white rhinoceros Lexical Profile
• noun
A large herbivorous mammal (Ceratotherium simum) native to southern and central Africa, characterized by a massive body, two keratin horns on its snout, and a broad, square muzzle adapted for grazing on grasses.
"Conservationists have worked tirelessly to protect the remaining populations of the southern white rhinoceros from aggressive poaching."
Word Nuance & Usage
The modifier 'white' does not accurately describe the animal's color; it is widely believed to be an English mistranslation of the Dutch word 'wijd' (wide), which refers to its broad, square muzzle that distinguishes it from the pointed-lipped 'black' rhinoceros.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The term 'rhinoceros' comes from the Greek words 'rhis' (nose) and 'keras' (horn). The English common name emerged in the 19th century in Southern Africa to differentiate this grazing species from the browsing black rhinoceros.