anaconda

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun large arboreal boa of tropical South America

Etymology

From New Latin anacandaia (“python”), originally referring to a species of constrictor found in Sri Lanka, from Sinhalese හෙනකඳයා (henakaⁿdayā, “whip snake”), from හෙණ (heṇa, “lightning, thunderbolt”) + කඳ (kaⁿda, “stem, trunk, body”) or from Tamil ஆனைக்கொன்றான் (āṉaikkoṉṟāṉ, “having killed an elephant”), from ஆனை (āṉai, “elephant”) + கொன்றான் (koṉṟāṉ, “having killed”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

Eunectes murinus

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