What is the suspected origin of the common name "white" rhinoceros, involving an Afrikaans word?
Answer
A mistranslation of the Afrikaans word *wijd*
The common name 'white' rhinoceros is considered a historical accident stemming from a linguistic misinterpretation by early English settlers in South Africa. These settlers encountered the Afrikaans word *wijd*, which translates directly to 'wide.' This term was used specifically to describe the animal's broad mouth structure, which is key to its grazing habit. Due to phonetic similarity, the settlers likely mistook or misinterpreted 'wijd' as 'white,' leading to the persistent, albeit misleading, common name for the species.
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